Do you know an older adult who is experiencing unexplained repeated falls or restricting their normal activities due to a fear of falling?

I was honored to offer a Stein Public Lecture at the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at UCSD in January, 2016, on this topic that affects so many of us and our loved ones – preventing falls with aging.

In this lecture, I cover key points regarding the public health problem of falls in older adults in the United States (US). The costs of this public health crisis are staggering, considering that the average medical care for an older adult who has been injured by a fall exceeds $19,000, excluding physician services.

The problem of falls in older adults is especially urgent at this time as the US population of adults over 65 years old is rapidly growing and the rate of falls in this age group is rising at the same time. So the total number of falls is on the rise and there is already a shortage of skilled healthcare providers in the US.

In this one-hour talk, I focus on key points that make up the Three Main Pillars of a multi-factorial approach to reducing fall risk for older adults:

• Medical Management and Vision Exams
• Home and Environmental Safety
• Balance and Mobility

So grab a friend who is over 65 years of age, pull up a chair and check out my two-cents on this important public health issue. I hope my message sparks helpful and productive conversation!