Fall Prevention Resources

Take the Falls Free Checkup

Fall prevention awareness toolkit

This page provides resources for health professionals, health care facilities and services, emergency medical services and community services to educate the public and promote behaviors that reduce the risk of older adult falls.

Finding Our Balance logo and social media assets

Download flyers

• 5 simple ways to reduce the risk of falls and maintain independence as you age
  • Ready to use (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF) | Russian (PDF)
  • Customizable (PDF)
• Fall prevention exercise programs flyer (PDF)
• Home modifications checklist to help identify and remove hazards in the home that can increase the risk of falling
  • Ready to use (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF) | Russian (PDF)
  • Customizable (PDF)
• Preventing Falls and Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Finding our Balance (PDF)
• Talk to your doctor about how to stay independent as you age
  • Ready to use (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF) | Russian (PDF)
  • Customizable (PDF)
  • Fall prevention pictorial flyer (PDF)
• Finding our Balance Older Adult Falls Prevention Program flier (PDF)

Social media assets

Quick and easy social media graphics

Recommended hashtags:
#FindingOurBalance
#FallPreventionAwareness
#fallpreventionweek2021

• Facebook (JPG)
• Twitter (JPG)
• Instagram (JPG)
• Finding our balance wordmark / program logo (PNG)

Prevent falls while staying home

There are several great resources you can use to prevent falls while staying home to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19. Here are some current resources:

• “Aging Wisely: Fall Prevention” is a program produced by the Pierce County Fall Prevention Coalition and hosted by former KING TV anchor Dennis Bounds.
• National Institute on Aging Resource, including videos and how to guides.
• NCHPAD YouTube Exercise Videos
• Sit and Be Fit is an at home exercise program helping you live and age well with television and online resources
• Falls Free CheckUp
• Take the safety questionnaire and learn your Senior Safety Score
• Answer these 12 questions to learn more about fall prevention tips from the National Council on Aging

Check back, these will be updated as we learn of new resources!

Falls prevention printed materials

DOH has a wide range of printed materials on falls prevention that address home safety, medications, physical activity and other risk factors. Materials are available in English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese and Vietnamese. See our publications page.

Monthly fall prevention newsletter

The coalition also produces a monthly newsletter on fall prevention programming and trainings. If you would like to receive the newsletter and other coalition updates, sign up using GovDelivery or contact us by email.

Falls prevention awareness week 2024

National Falls Prevention Awareness Week will be observed September 23 – 27, 2023. Read the Governor's Proclamation (PDF). Each year local groups across Washington state organize events to raise awareness that falls are not a normal part of aging; most falls are preventable. For more information and a social media toolkit visit the NCOA website.

Fall prevention programs

Evidence Based Fall Prevention Programs are proven to decrease risk of falls in older adults. For more information on all of the programs that have met the highest criteria of evidence for fall prevention please see the NCOA evidence-based falls prevention programs. Please check the sites for the programs listed below to see updated Washington training information.

Evidence Based Exercise Classes | Washington State Department of Health

Regional coalitions and programs

• Benton & Franklin Safe and Healthy Aging Adults Coalition: Contact Kelly Lewis. For healthy aging resources visit the Benton Franklin Health District website.  
• Island County Fall Prevention Coalition: Contact   Elizabeth Dickman 
• King County Fall Prevention Coalition: Contact  kcfallcoalition@gmail.com 
• Lewis, Mason, Thurston County Fall Prevention Coalition: Contact Valerie Aubertin
• North Central Region Falls Coalition: Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties. Contact Janna Finley 
• Pierce County Fall Prevention Coalition: Contact Ivan Tudela or visit the website.
• Skagit Falls Prevention Coalition: Contact Lani Miller
• Snohomish Falls Prevention Coalition: Contact Carlie Deatherage 
• Walla Walla Healthy Aging Coalition: Contact Amy Osterman
• West Region EMS: Contact Greg Perry 
• North Region EMS: Contact Mike Hilley 

 

Online data

• Falls related data and evidence-based program locations are available online through the Washington Tracking Network.
• Maps of falls data by county can be found here:
  • Leading Cause of Injury Deaths- Age 65+ 2022
  • Number of Emergency Department Visits-Age 65+ 2019-2023
  • Rate of Fall Related Deaths by County-Age65+ 2019-2023
  • Rate of Fall Related Deaths by Region-Age65+ 2019-2022

Population trends – Washington state map by county

• Estimated Washington Population 65+ by County 2010 – 2040 (PDF)
• Estimated Percent of Washington Population 65+, by County 2010 – 2040 (PDF)

Other resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Older Adult Falls
• STRIDES for Strong Bones
• Washington State Hospital Association
• Finding Our Balance: 2018 Washington State Action Plan for Older Adults (PDF)
• Older Adults Falls & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Outreach and Communications Toolkit (PDF)

Contact and Connect

Contact us | To get important information about older adult falls, select the “Subscribe” button at the bottom of the page and then search for "Finding our Balance."