Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death and hospitalizations for older New Yorkers, the state said. A new program is being launched to help change that.
The three-year program is funded by $1.25 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living.
“Expanding fall prevention programs across the state is pivotal because falls are preventable and there are proven ways to reduce and prevent them,” said New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen.
The money will go toward streamlining access, building virtual capacity, and creating resources to help prevent falls statewide.
The program includes partnerships with the New York State Office for the Aging, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center, Brain Injury Association of New York State, Mental Health Association of New York, and the Seneca Nation Area Office for the Aging.
Programs will include A Matter of Balance, Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, and Stay Active and Independent for Life.
The initiative targets adults 60 and older with the greatest social or economic need, as well as adults with disabilities, aiming to help them maintain independence and confidence.
From 2018 to 2023, the rate of fall-related deaths among New Yorkers 60 and older increased by 25%. Fall-related hospitalizations rose by 13%, and emergency department visits increased by 15%.
Older adult fall prevention is recognized in the 2025–2030 Prevention Agenda as a public health priority for state and local action.
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“By expanding evidence-based community programs, we can make falls prevention resources available to older adults and those with disabilities to help reduce accidents and associated complications,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.