Oral

This session will explore the vital role of injury prevention as a part of public health, using older adult falls prevention as a lens to examine the impact that injuries have on the US at the state and Federal level and explore policy and programmatic interventions to address this important and growing public health. Injuries are a significant public health problem because of the impact on the health of Americans, including premature death, disability, and the burden placed on the health care system. More than 173,000 people die due to injury and violence each year. Millions more are injured and survive, only to cope with lifelong disabilities. More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States and among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. Injuries cost US society an estimated $406 billion annually and the average cost of a fall injury per person is approximately $17,500. The lifetime total costs of falls among adults age 65 and older in 2000 exceeded $19 billion, including $0.2 billion for fatal falls and $19 billion for nonfatal falls. Presenters will illustrate the value of policy as a tool in injury prevention by highlighting federal and state level examples of policy successes related to older adult falls. Additionally, presenters will share experiences from Washington State and Wisconsin on translating seminal falls prevention field research into effective, evidence based programs that save lives and reduce morbidity as models of successful falls prevention programming. These successful policy and programmatic activities being conducted at the national and state levels have raised awareness of falls as important and preventable and taught broad-based lessons on the value of injury prevention in the field of public health.

Session Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Explain the role of injury prevention in public health Describe the value of policy as a tool for public health intervention Explain the elements and challenges in achieving a successful policy outcome at the federal level Highlight the impact of the Safety of Seniors Act on older adult falls prevention awareness, programs, and state and local policy engagement Identify at least two evidence-based falls prevention programs Demonstrate the benefits and challenges of implementing falls prevention programs in two states

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)