Falls Free CT Marks First Anniversary During Falls Prevention Awareness Week

This month marks the first anniversary of Falls Free CT, the statewide falls prevention coalition dedicated to fostering collaboration between caregivers, physicians, pharmacists, first responders, and community members.  The Connecticut Departments of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) and Public Health (DPH) partnered to launch Falls Free CT in September 2024.  This year, Governor Ned Lamont has declared September 22-26, 2025, Falls Prevention Awareness Week in Connecticut, corresponding to the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) annual health campaign observed during the first days of fall.

The purpose of Falls Free CT, led by the Bureau of Aging, is to bring together falls prevention champions who are committed to reducing the incidence of falls among older adults by sharing public programming, compiling valuable resources, discussing best practices, and collecting and analyzing comprehensive data.  The coalition raises awareness about biological, behavioral, and environmental risk factors and recommends evidence-based prevention measures.

The latest data from DPH reveals that in 2023, 411 older adults in Connecticut died from a fall and 36,534 were sent to the hospital with an injury; nearly 85% of fall-related deaths occurred in older adults; older adults are nearly five times more likely to die from a fall than their younger counterparts; and 70% of fall-related hospital admissions occurred in adults 65 years and older, resulting in $1.7 million of direct patient charges.

Several hospitals and health systems participate in the coalition.  To learn more about the opportunity to join Falls Free CT and how to register for upcoming meetings, contact Angela Vázquez with the Bureau of Aging at angela.vazquez@ct.gov.