One in four Americans ages 65 years and older fall each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019).  In 2014, there were 8,164 fall-related inpatient hospitalizations for Kentucky residents ages 65+ (Kentucky Safety and Prevention Alignment Network, 2014).   According to the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center in Campbell County for seniors (age 65 +), the estimated emergency department visits to hospitals for unintentional falls from 2008-2012 was 30-40%.  Each emergency room visit due to a fall costs on average $2,800 (Cincinnati Enquirer, 2014).   Total hospital charges for fall-related inpatient hospitalizations per person involving Campbell County Kentucky resident’s ages 65+ was on average $32,342 (Kentucky Safety and Prevention Alignment Network, 2014).  In 2015, fall related injuries for seniors cost around $50 billion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).  In addition, the fear of falling is often a real concern for the aging adult.   This fear may cause a reduction in activities, which then can lead to reduced mobility and physical fitness, and finally to an increase in their actual risk of falling.  In order to address these issues, the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service taught the seven week series called Matter of Balance.

Fifteen participants who were 65 years and older completed the Matter of Balance series, which focused on reducing the fear of falling, increasing physical activity, and learning fall prevention strategies.  Methods utilized from the Matter of Balance curriculum were the following:  personal action plans, home hazard checklists, assessing fall risk-taking behaviors, exercise training, and practical problem solving through group discussion.   In addition, a physical therapist presented fall prevention at one of the classes.   The nutrition education assistant also taught about healthy eating and recipes were sampled at each of the seven classes.  End of the seven week program written evaluations showed the following:

1. 91% of the participants said that their understanding about fall prevention increased
2. 82% had made changes to their unsafe “fallty” habits to lower their falling risk.
3. 73% said that their fear of falling decreased.
4. 72% had become more physically active to reduce the risk of falling
5. 55% had made changes in their home environment to reduce the risk of falling
6. 55% had shared with others the recipes that were sampled in class. 

Based on the average cost per person for total hospital charges for a fall-related inpatient hospitalization involving Campbell County residents 65+ ($32,342), the fifteen participants who completed the Matter of Balance program could potentially lead to an estimated savings of $485,130 in health care costs.  One participant stated, “I am putting in handrails in our shower to make it safer.”   Another stated, “My fear of falling has decreased because I have become more aware and think first. It has made me more confident.”