|
 Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries and the second leading cause of nonfatal injuries for people over 65. The North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition brings together researchers, planners, health care providers, housing specialists, aging services providers, and many others to work together to reduce the number of falls and fall-related injuries for North Carolinians.
For more information about the North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition please contact Ellen Schneider at the University of North Carolina Institute on Aging or Sharon Rhyne at the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
The Coalition is working to address the following six goal areas:
1) Infrastructure Development and Maintenance
Establish and maintain a statewide Falls Prevention Coalition of key state, regional, and community stakeholders to systematically identify needs, resources and successes and to build capacity for falls prevention throughout the state.
2) Community Awareness and Education
Develop and apply effective social marketing materials and practices to engage and better inform the public and specific constituencies about falls risks and proven strategies to reduce falls.
3) Provider Education
Identify, develop, and implement training programs at state, regional, and community levels for both clinical and community providers to raise falls prevention awareness and enable them to plan, deliver and evaluate effective evidence-based falls prevention programs and practices/interventions.
4) Risk Assessment and Behavioral Intervention
Create and implement plans to identify and establish necessary complements of risk assessment and intervention strategies at the state, regional and community levels to address the varying and diverse needs of those at risk for falls.
5) Surveillance and Evaluation
Monitor the growth and outcomes of falls prevention initiatives. Evaluate and disseminate findings and lessons learned from the process and outcomes of the initiative on at least an annual basis. Use information and conclusions to set new goals and strategies for upcoming year and seek resources to continue falls prevention activities.
6) Advocacy for Supportive Policies and Environments
Assess, advocate, and facilitate the development of policies, environments, and resources that advance falls prevention.
|
