Baltimore City Officials Announce Citywide Falls Prevention Strategy for Older Adults

Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen have announced a new citywide falls prevention strategy to lower fall-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for older adults in Baltimore, reports the Baltimore City Health Department . The strategy will supply leaders, partners, and the general public with information on where falls are occurring and where to locate interventions and resources to prevent future falls for all of Baltimore's older adults. The strategy will concentrate on mapping where falls are occurring throughout the city via near-real-time hospital data, targeting fall prevention activities in areas of high fall numbers and rates, and educating the general public that falls can be prevented and resources are available. Almost 5,000 older adults in Baltimore visited the ED last year because of a fall, and falls-related ED visits in the city top the statewide average by more than 20 percent. The city's rate of falls-related hospitalizations also is 55 percent higher than the state's. The average cost of a fall-related hospitalization is $39,000, or $60 million a year in Baltimore City. "Our citywide strategy uses innovative, evidence-based methods to go to where people are, by using science to map out where falls are occurring, providing holistic services such as help with medications and housing interventions, and educating residents on how to prevent falls," said Dr. Wen. "The Baltimore City Health Department is glad to convene partners across all sectors and lead this collective impact strategy to improve health."