Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD) occurs this year on September 22, the first day of fall. This day is an opportunity for therapists to raise awareness among the older populations in their community about the dangers of fall-related injuries and how to prevent them. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) and national therapy organizations have collected helpful educational resources therapists may provide to patients and caregivers:

• Hang this 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall Infographic (also available in Spanish and Portuguese) in your rehab department to provide helpful tips
• Utilize PowerPoint presentations to educate adults on strategies to reduce falls, like this one developed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy
• This document covering 10 myths about older adult falls is a helpful printout for both patients and caregivers that debunks common misconceptions relating to falls and aging
• If your rehab department hosts a falls prevention event, you could provide this 6 Steps to Protect Your Older Loved One from a Fall printout to attendees
• Help caregivers and older home-owners check for safety with A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults
• Check the AOTA Falls Prevention Toolkit for information on the role of OT in falls prevention
• YouTube videos from MoveForwardPT.com are available to show patients how physical therapists help improve balance and prevent falls

The month of September is a timely opportunity to focus on an issue that, according to the NCOA, affects one-third of Americans aged 65 years or older. Participate on social media, read and share your own tips using the official hashtag, #FPAD2016.