Fall Prevention Arkansas Department of Health

Fall Prevention

Falls are the leading cause of injury death in adults ages 65 and older. The number of fall injuries and deaths is expected to increase as the Baby Boomer Cohort ages; the number of seniors 65 and older will increase from 40 million to more than 88 million in 2050. In 2020, there were 201 deaths and 11,418 hospitalizations due to falls.

Previously, with grant funding, ADH supported the following preventative programs:

Tai Chi: a form of meditation through movement and motion that focuses on mental and physical well-being. Tai Chi originated in China, and it has many benefits in the prevention and treatment of many health problems.

Matter of Balance: an evidenced-based program based upon research conducted by the Roybal Center for Enhancement of Later-Life Function at Boston University. It is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have concerns about falls. This class is conducted during eight, two-hour classes, with 8 to 12 participants learning:

How to view falls and fear of falling as controllable
How to set realistic goals for increasing activity
How to change their environment to reduce fall risk factors
How to promote exercise to increase strength and balance

Resources:

Office	Address	Phone	Fax
Substance Misuse and Injury Prevention	4815 West Markham Street, Slot 10 Little Rock, AR 72205	501-683-0707	501-682-0427

Arkansas Department of Health

Fall Prevention

Prevention & Healthy Living