Falls are the leading cause of injury among New Yorkers over 65; every day 2 older adults in New York State die because of falls

Contacts: Earl Wells/Laura Jacobs, e3communications, 716‐854‐8182

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – November 15, 2010 – The Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York announced today that it is awarding grants to the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County to develop community based programs to prevent and reduce falls. Since 2007, the Foundation has invested more than $600,000 in grants and related projects to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with falls. According to the New York State Department of Health, falls account for approximately $1.7 billion in annual hospitalization costs.

“Our investment is having an impact in preventing falls among older adults and our grantees to date have been successful at developing and implementing measures that have reduced risks associated with falls while improving the quality of life in our community,” said Ann F. Monroe President and CEO of the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York. “Now it is time to expand this initiative to other communities, including Central New York to reduce the risks associated with falls, and thereby reduce the devastating human and financial costs from falls.”

"Preventing falls in the older adult population is an issue of critical importance in Onondaga County,” said Commissioner Lisa D. Alford of the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth. “This grant will allow us to create a coordinated community response that will be sustainable and reach older adults who would not normally have access to life‐saving and health‐preserving fall prevention information."

“Seniors want to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes as they age,” said Betty Falcão, Health Planning Director for Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County. “Taking steps to prevent falls is the key to helping seniors achieve this goal and stay active in their community.”

Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County will be responsible for developing a multi‐dimensional falls prevention plan to address the specific needs of their respective regions. The agencies will work with community-based organizations, all of whom will share in the development of the falls prevention plans. Upon successful completion of a plan for their community, each coalition will then be eligible to share in additional grants to support implementation of their respective plans.

To learn more about Falls Prevention, please visit our website: http://chfwcny.org/ click on Falls Prevention.

About the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York
The Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York is an independent private foundation. It invests in, and partners with, organizations and communities in innovative ways to improve health and healthcare for the vulnerable and underserved. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees has selected frail elders and children from communities of poverty as targeted populations for health improvements over the next several years. The Foundation is based in Buffalo and has a second office in Syracuse. For more information, please visit http://chfwcny.org/.