Don’t Fall this Fall! Your Guide to Preventing Falls and Staying Strong

As the leaves begin to fall, let’s talk about a more serious kind of fall - one that affects 1 in 4 older adults each year. Of those, 1 in 5 results in serious injury, including broken bones and head trauma. Even more concerning: once someone experiences a fall, their risk of falling again doubles.

But here’s the good news - falls are not an inevitable part of aging. There are proven, evidence-based strategies that can help reduce fall risk, improve confidence, and even teach people how to fall more safely when accidents happen. And Healthy Aging Physical Therapy is here to help you or your loved ones put those strategies into action.

CDC STEADI Initiative and Fall Prevention

According to the CDC’s STEADI Initiative (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries), the key pillars of fall prevention include:

• Screening for fall risk using tools like the Timed Up and Go (TUG) or 4-Stage Balance Test

• Strengthening and balance training that’s appropriate for age and ability

• Medication review and management

• Vision and vestibular assessment

• Home safety modifications

• Education on what to do in the event of a fall

[Source: CDC STEADI Program – https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/]

At Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, we’ve structured our programs around this proven framework to deliver the most effective strategies for fall prevention. Keep reading to learn how we put each pillar into practice.

Screening for Fall Risk

During our therapy evaluations, our licensed physical and occupational therapists conduct standardized, evidence-based fall risk screens, using tools like:

• Timed Up and Go (TUG)

• 4-Stage Balance Test

• 5 Times Sit to Stand

• Berg Balance Scale

• Backwards Walking Speed

• Gait speed analysis

These assessments help us identify your current fall risk level, evaluate your balance and mobility, and guide the creation of a personalized plan of care. At Healthy Aging, we believe knowledge is power—so we don’t just give you a score, we help you understand what it means. Using age- and gender-based normative values and clinically validated cut-off scores, we compare your results to your peers and determine what they indicate about your individual fall risk. From there, we build a care plan that addresses specific areas of deficit and set clear, measurable goals. These goals allow us to track progress, ensure what we're doing is effective, and pivot when needed to keep you moving forward safely.

Strengthening and Balance Programs

Strength and balance are woven into nearly everything we do here at Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, because we know just how critical they are to aging well. Every Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy plan of care we create includes targeted interventions to build strength, improve balance, and reduce fall risk. But we also go above and beyond traditional therapy by offering extended support through our Wellness365 program, where specially trained personal trainers work with older adults to maintain and build strength long after therapy ends. For those who enjoy the energy of group fitness, we offer evidence-based classes like Strong and STEADI, which blends balance training, reactive strategies, and floor recovery skills, and Fit & Fearless, our adaptive martial arts program that teaches safe falling techniques and improves agility and body control. Whether you’re just getting started or continuing your wellness journey, our strength and balance programs provide the foundation for safer, more confident movement.

Medication Review and Management

While we don’t prescribe or manage medications directly, our therapists play an important role in identifying potential medication-related fall risks. During every evaluation, we review your current medication list and screen for drugs that may contribute to dizziness, fatigue, or low blood pressure—such as sedatives, antihypertensives, and certain pain medications. When we identify red flags, we collaborate with your physician, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist to recommend a formal medication review or suggest adjustments that may reduce your risk of falling.

Vision and Vestibular Assessment

Our Vestibular Therapy services are provided by clinicians specially trained to treat conditions such as BPPV, vestibular hypofunction, and motion sensitivity. Addressing these issues can significantly improve stability, reduce dizziness, and restore confidence in movement, particularly during sudden turns, head movements, or nighttime activities when balance is most challenged. In addition to vestibular care, we also consider vision as an important piece of the fall prevention puzzle. While we don’t provide eye exams, we screen for vision impairments during PT and OT sessions and refer to optometry or ophthalmology when needed. We also help patients address visual-vestibular integration challenges and provide guidance on modifying the home environment to better accommodate vision changes. Want to learn more? Check out our Vestibular and Dizziness page here.

Home Safety Assessment and Modification

At Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, home safety is an essential part of every plan of care. Our Physical and Occupational Therapists assess your living environment during therapy visits to identify potential fall hazards and barriers to independence. We evaluate factors such as flooring, lighting, stairways, bathroom access, and furniture layout, and we provide tailored recommendations to improve safety and function. When modifications are needed, we help coordinate referrals to trusted professionals who can install grab bars, ramps, railings, and other accessibility features. For those seeking a more in-depth evaluation, either in conjunction with therapy or on its own, we also offer our Home Assessment & Resource Program (HARP). This program provides a focused, expert evaluation of your home environment with personalized safety recommendations and resource navigation to support aging-in-place confidently and safely.

Fall Preparedness Education

At Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, we also believe fall preparedness is just as important as fall prevention—because even with the best strategies in place, accidents can still happen. That’s why our therapists receive advanced training in fall preparedness education, including safe falling techniques, floor recovery strategies, and how to respond if a fall occurs. We routinely make getting on and off the floor a core part of therapy, recognizing that this essential skill is often overlooked in traditional rehab settings. Whether someone is learning to recover independently after a fall or safely call for help when needed, our goal is to build both skill and confidence. For those who want to go even deeper, our Fit & Fearless program offers a supportive group environment where participants practice safe landing techniques, controlled descents, and reactive balance drills inspired by adaptive martial arts. It's an empowering, innovative approach to fall preparedness that helps older adults feel strong, capable, and ready for whatever life throws their way.