MASSACHUSETTS FALLS PREVENTION COALITION

The Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition was established in 2006 by founding organizations, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, to raise awareness about the serious problem of older adult falls and associated injuries and promote the availability of successful prevention strategies to help reduce falls rates in Massachusetts. 

The Coalition is currently comprised of over 160 individuals representing nearly 100 organizations including state agencies, multiple types of community-based organizations serving older adults, healthcare providers/practitioners (e.g., occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, pharmacists), long term care and hospital providers, physical fitness experts/Tai Chi practitioners, health insurers, public health researchers/epidemiologists, educators, advocates, etc. 

SHARING A MISSION

Our voluntary Falls Coalition members are committed to the following mission: 

  • To increase awareness that falls are preventable;

  • To support family members/caregivers, healthcare providers, and the community at large about falls prevention; and 

  • To reduce the incidence and severity of falls and fall-related injuries across the lifespan 

HOW DOES THE COALITION WORK TOGETHER? 

  • We hold quarterly membership meetings that offer opportunities to network with each other, share important news around falls prevention activities/events, and learn from invited expert presenters and member presenters about their falls prevention work and new programs/initiatives. In the past our meetings have been held in-person at the Mass Medical Society headquarters in Waltham. However, due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic our Coalition transitioned to virtual meetings during the summer of 2020 and will continue to convene this way for the foreseeable future.
  • The month of September is especially important to the falls prevention community and our Falls Coalition as it includes a national observance focused on promoting and educating on the many ways older adult falls and falls injuries can be prevented known as Falls Prevention Awareness Week (FPAW). The National Council on Aging has designated the week of September 20 through September 24, 2021 as FPAW. To learn more about what you can do to participate and help raise awareness, please visit this NCOA webpage here.
  • We maintain regular contact through an e-mail distribution list that enables timely dissemination of pertinent information, for example, new research on evidence-based falls prevention interventions, the release of state/federal reports on falls and fall-related data, announcements of funding-related opportunities, upcoming events of interest to organizations serving older adult populations and other “at-risk for falls” populations, etc.
  • Volunteer Coalition members maintain our Facebook and Twitter sites.

HOW CAN I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MA FALLS PREVENTION COALITION?

If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Helen Magliozzi.

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FALLS PREVENTION