For many older adults, a fall can change everything.
A single fall can lead to serious injury, hospitalization, loss of independence, and a reduced quality of life. As Iowa's population continues to age, preventing those falls before they happen has become an increasingly important public health priority.
Now, a nearly $1.94 million federal award to the Iowa Community HUB will help expand evidence-based falls prevention programs across the state, with University of Iowa Health Care's Level 1 Trauma Center serving as a key partner in the effort.
The funding, awarded through the Administration for Community Living's Scaling Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs initiative, will strengthen connections between health care providers and community organizations while expanding access to programs that help older adults improve strength, balance, and confidence.
The expansion builds on a foundation already established by University of Iowa Health Care and its community partners.
Since June 2024, the team has delivered Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention programs to 891 participants, Stepping On programs to 129 participants, and Pisando Fuerte, the Spanish-language version of Stepping On, to 14 participants as part of Iowa's first pilot of the program. Together, those initiatives have reached more than 1,000 Iowans.
"Falls remain the leading cause of injury events in Iowa. With older adults accounting for more than half of all trauma events, there is an urgent need for falls prevention programs in Iowa, especially for older adults and adults with disabilities,"
Current programming is offered through partnerships with Area Agencies on Aging and local public health departments throughout eastern Iowa. The new funding will allow the team to expand those efforts statewide by training additional facilitators to deliver Stepping On and Pisando Fuerte in communities across Iowa.
The Level 1 Trauma Center is uniquely positioned to support that growth. Since 2018, the team has provided Stepping On programming and now serves as Iowa's license holder for both Stepping On and Pisando Fuerte. In addition to training facilitators, the team provides technical assistance, implementation support, educational resources, and connections to subject matter experts in areas such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and vision care.
Leading much of that work is Bailey Rickels, MPH, CHES®, injury prevention coordinator for University of Iowa Health Care's Level 1 Trauma Center.
"We've spent years building relationships and supporting communities as they bring these programs to local residents," Rickels said. "This funding gives us the opportunity to expand that work and help even more Iowans access programs that can reduce falls, prevent injuries, and help them maintain their independence."
In addition to in-person classes, University of Iowa Health Care continues to offer virtual programming, helping reach rural communities and individuals who may not otherwise have access to evidence-based falls prevention resources.
As the initiative expands statewide, leaders hope to connect more older adults with tools and support that can help them remain active, safe, and independent for years to come.