title: The National Falls Free™ Initiative, working collaboratively to affect change.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 2004 the National Council on Aging (NCOA) has been working in collaboration with a growing number of national, state, and local organizations through the Falls Free(©) Initiative to address the growing public health issue of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. Through collaborative leadership, evidence-based interventions, practical lifestyle adjustments, and community partnerships we are working to reduce the number of older adult falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The many activities of the national and state coalitions have brought recognition to the issue of fall prevention, education, and training to providers and greater investment in programs and services resulting in tremendous momentum and community activism. While we have yet to realize an impact on rates of falls, this strategic investment in building the infrastructure needed to affect change is the first step toward reducing the growing number of falls among older adults.
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention, National Council on Aging, 1901 L Street, NW 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, USA. bonita.beattie@ncoa.org
authors.forename: Bonita Lynn
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Beattie
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014481:United States