Falls Prevention Month 2025: Resource Roundup for Older Adults & Caregivers
September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month, the perfect time to take stock of what’s working—and what isn’t—when it comes to staying safe. We’ve come a long way since “fall prevention” made most people think of alert buttons and emergency response systems. Yet even in 2025, if you search “fall prevention resources,” the first promoted result is still an alert system.
Other links cover bits and pieces: how to keep your home safe, why kids fall out of windows, or even reminders to keep nightclothes short so you don’t trip. Useful, yes—but not the whole picture.
That’s why we’ve pulled together this evidence-based roundup of fall prevention strategies—everything older adults and caregivers need to know, all in one place.
Why Falls Prevention Matters
The numbers tell a serious story: 28% of people over 65 fall every year. Most hip fractures are caused by falls, and too often one fall sets off a cascade of challenges:
Trouble getting up from the floor (a skill most of us never practice)
Loss of confidence and mobility
Reduced physical activity
Shortened healthspan and independence
The good news? Most falls can be prevented. The latest science points to three key areas: your environment, your personal capability, and the tools and support available to you.
1. Your Environment: Make Safety Easy
Falls prevention often starts at home. The environment is one of the easiest things to improve—sometimes in just a few minutes.
Clear clutter from walkways, stairs, and narrow areas (shoes, bags, books).
Secure rugs and carpets so they don’t slip or curl.
Remove trailing cords and keep wires tucked safely away.
Upgrade your lighting. Add nightlights in the bathroom and hallways—bright enough to see, but not blinding.
Check handrails. Make sure stair rails are sturdy, and consider grab bars in bathrooms where surfaces get slippery.
Keep daily items within easy reach. No more stretching on tiptoe or bending dangerously low.
Add light switches at entrances and next to the bed for nighttime safety.
These changes don’t just reduce fall risk—they make everyday life smoother.
2. Your Personal Capability: Strength, Senses & Sleep
A safe home only works if your body can respond well to challenges. Investing in your personal health is one of the best fall prevention strategies.
Do a sensory check
Eyes: Update your prescription, check for cataracts, and keep glasses clean.
Ears: Good hearing helps with balance and awareness.
Feet: Healthy feet mean better stability. Address numbness, pain, or poor footwear.
Build strength and mobility
Leg strength is critical. Try standing up from a chair without using your hands. If you can’t yet, practice daily until you can.
Stairs & floor practice. Make sure you can get up and down stairs confidently, and practice getting down to and up from the floor. If needed, ask a physical therapist for guidance.
Walk with intention. Don’t shuffle—lift your feet. If this is hard, a PT can retrain your gait.
Manage your health
Review medications. Are the dosages still correct? Are there side effects like dizziness?
Protect your sleep. Research shows sleep affects muscle repair, balance, cognition, and motivation.
Stay on top of chronic conditions. Over 70% of Americans 50+ live with at least one chronic illness. Managing conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease reduces fall risk.
Eat well & hydrate. Balanced nutrition supports energy, muscle health, and alertness.
3. Tools & Support: Don’t Go It Alone
The right tools and support systems make all the difference in maintaining balance and safety.
Lean on the experts. Physical therapists, personal trainers (especially those certified by the Functional Aging Institute), and occupational therapists specialize in safe movement for older adults.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist. Report any dizziness, grogginess, or side effects from medications. Sometimes a simple change in dosage or timing can improve safety.
Know your balance. Balance naturally fluctuates day to day. Use tools like a properly fitted cane or walker when needed—think of them as support, not a setback.
Check your shoes. Well-fitting, supportive footwear is one of the simplest ways to improve stability.
Get a balance assessment. Ask your healthcare provider for an evaluation. Tools like the Zibrio Stability Scalecan measure your balance the way a blood pressure cuff measures heart health—providing an objective score and a clear sense of fall risk.
Final Thoughts
Falls may be common, but they don’t have to be inevitable. By addressing your environment, personal capability, and support systems, you can dramatically reduce your risk.
This Falls Prevention Awareness Month, take a few minutes to walk through your home, check in with your body, and reach out to your healthcare team. Whether you’re an older adult, a caregiver, or a senior living community leader, these small steps can make a life-changing difference.
Key Takeaways for Caregivers & Senior Living Executives
Falls prevention is multifaceted. Safety comes from both environment and personal health.
Education empowers. Share these strategies widely in your community newsletters, resident activities, or family outreach.
Assessment is essential. Just like blood pressure, balance can and should be measured.
Staying on your feet means staying independent. This September, let’s spread the word: Fall prevention is not just about responding after the fact—it’s about living stronger, safer, and more confidently every day.