The Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition was founded in 2006 to raise awareness among senior care providers and the public of the harmful impact of falls and the availability of successful prevention strategies.
More than 75 organizations in the state have joined the Coalition and participated in its work to promote legislation, disseminate research findings, conduct educational programs, and work on quality improvement initiatives. Member organizations include health care institutions, government agencies, advocates, researchers, community-based senior care agencies, and others.
Massachusetts Falls Prevention Profile from NCOA
Secretary Ann L. Hartstein and Senator Richard Moore present the
Governors Proclamation to the Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition
at the 5th Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 22, 2011.
Among the Coalition’s members are major senior care providers in the state. Facilities and organizations that have not yet joined the coalition are encouraged to do so by contacting Mass Senior Care's Helen Magliozzi.
In May 2009, the Coalition hosted its Second Annual Falls Prevention Symposium that brought together legislators, public health officials and more than 800 health care professionals working on falls prevention. The Coalition also joins many states across the country by holding Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 22 at the Massachusetts State House.
Local senior centers participate in Tai Chi exercises to improve balance.
Legislation
In July 2010, Governor Deval L. Patrick signed into law a health care cost containment bill that included language establishing, in statute for the first time, a commission on falls prevention to be hosted within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
This represented the culmination of four years of work on the part of the Falls Prevention Coalition and our members, who pushed so hard to make this law possible. Thanks to the Governor and our legislative champions, our work will continue into the future, as we develop, implement and evaluate interventions in all settings to prevent falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. Thanks to this law, we will remain committed to keeping older adults in Massachusetts, safe, independent and healthy.