Rhode Island Leadership
Making a Difference to Address Fall Prevention
Did You Know…every year in the U.S., more than 1/3 of adults age 65+ have a fall, with
approximately 1/3 of fallers sustaining an injury? Research indicates that people who fall are 2-3 times
more likely to fall again, and each fall increases the likelihood of more serious injury or death.
Rhode Island Falls Facts
Unintentional falls are the second leading cause of injury-related death in Rhode Island.
Roughly 66% of all accidental deaths among individuals over the age of 65 are due to fall injury.
The fall death rate for individuals in the 65+ age group is 168.3/100,000, a rate more than 25 times
higher than that of the general Rhode Island population rate of 6.6/100,000.
Roughly 25% of older adults who sustain a fall-related injury will not survive. Of the survivors,
another 24% will die within the 12 months following their fall.
Falls account for 26% of injury-related emergency department visit and 43% of injury-related hospital
discharges.
Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalization in Rhode Island, and most fall-related
hospitalizations in Rhode Island occur among people aged 65 and over.
Over 14% of Rhode Islanders are 65 years of age or older.
As the population ages, the impact and cost of fall-related
deaths and injuries will increase dramatically unless this
serious public health issue is addressed effectively.
Rhode Island Responds
Falling is NOT an inevitable result of aging. Through evidence-based interventions, practical lifestyle
adjustments, and community partnerships, we can substantially reduce the number of falls. Rhode Island
is taking action to prevent falls through the following initiatives:
In 2002, Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) initiated Safe Rhode Island (SRI), the
state’s violence and injury prevention program through a three year CDC cooperative agreement
to assess and plan for injury prevention in the state. With this funding, SRI assembled the RI
Injury Advisory Council (IAC) in 2003 to determine priorities and strategies for preventing
injuries and to guide the development of a statewide injury prevention plan.
The FIPTF was formed in 2004 specifically to address the issue of reducing falls in the older
adult population of Rhode Island and to develop recommendations for prevention.
Coastal Medical partnered with the Rhode Island Injury Community Planning Group (ICPG)
Falls Injury Prevention Subcommittee (FIP) December 2010 to jointly sponsor a successful
continuing medical education event titled Fall Prevention among Older Adults: The State of the
Science for physicians and nurses.
In 2007, the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner and ICPG FIP partners provided
training to commercial health plans (Blue Cross/Blue Shield of RI), Department of Health and
Human Services (Medicaid) and Neighborhood Health Plan (Medicaid) through a symposium
titled Fall Prevention and RI Health Insurers. As a result of this symposium, Blue Cross/Blue
Shield of RI developed an initiative to reimburse for environmental screening.
Rhode Island Leadership
Making a Difference to Address Fall Prevention
Center for Health Data & Analysis and URI College of Nursing partnered with ICPG Falls Injury
Prevention subcommittee to conduct an analysis of RI emergency department. The subsequent
report (Injury Visits to Emergency Departments and Hospital Discharges in Rhode Island, 20052009: Focus On Falls) presents summary information for 2005 – 2009 on hospital ED visits and
hospital in-patient discharges in RI for injuries and poisonings with an emphasis on falls.
Contact Information
Rhonda E. Schwartz
Unintentional Injury Prevention Coordinator
Safe Rhode Island Injury Prevention Program
Rhode Island Department of Health
Three Capitol Hill, Room 409
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401.222.1173
[email protected]
Jennifer Andrade Koziol, MPH
Interim Falls Injury Prevention Project Coordinator
Rhode Island Dept. of Health
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
401-222-4964
[email protected]
Website: http://www.health.ri.gov/injury/about/fallsprevention/
Rhode Island Injury Prevention Plan: http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/pdf/stateplans/plan_ri.pdf
Sources:
State of Rhode Island Department of Health. (2006). The Burden of Injury in Rhode Island: A State Profile.
http://www.health.ri.gov/publications/burdendocuments/Injury.pdf
State of Rhode Island Department of Health. (n.d.). Falls Prevention: Information for Older Adults.
http://www.health.ri.gov/injury/fallsprevention//for/olderadults/index.php
State of Rhode Island Department of Health. (2005). Rhode Island Injury Prevention Plan.
http://www.health.ri.gov/publications/plans/2005InjuryPrevention.pdf#page=20
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___________Developed by the National Council on Aging The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and
advocacy organization with headquarters in Washington, DC. The NCOA is a national voice for older Americans – especially
those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged – and the community organizations that serve them. For more information, please
visit www.ncoa.org