UK HealthCare, Lexington Senior Center lead community effort on fall prevention awareness

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 23, 2025) – A fall can happen to anyone, at any age, place or time. For adults age 65 and older, falling can be frightening and a serious health matter — not only for the physical repercussions of falling, but the emotional trauma which often occurs afterwards.  

Gov. Andy Beshear signed a proclamation to observe Sept. 22-26 as Kentucky Fall Prevention Awareness Week. Part of a nationwide initiative organized by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), it aims to raise awareness that falls are preventable and to reduce the risk of falls for older adults in the state and across the country. 

On Monday, the UK HealthCare Trauma Outreach and Education team and the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC) kicked off Fall Prevention Week by partnering with the Lexington Senior Center to host an educational event for the community. 

“It’s very important for us to partner with the Lexington Senior Center,” said Amie Peel, a registered nurse and UK Trauma’s outreach and education coordinator.  “We have similar interests in keeping our community safe and healthy, so it’s a great time to come together and inform our senior population with facts and knowledge that can improve their lives and maintain their independence, which is a priority.” 

Event attendees learned valuable skills from UK’s emergency and trauma teams, who demonstrated safety in falling techniques. Margaret Griffen, M.D., UK HealthCare surgeon and vice chair for leadership and development in the UK College of Medicine Department of Surgery, discussed the key points of providing care for the aging population and tips on how to prevent falls and how minor adjustments in the home can prevent future falls from happening.  

Participants also learned about Smart 911, a free service offered by the City of Lexington. When community members sign up for Smart 911, it gives first responders important information that will help them address a caller’s needs in an emergency. This information can help police, fire and EMS locate and help injured people at the residence. At the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, falls are a large percentage of admissions.  In the last fiscal year, the hospital had 2,449 registry entries for patients age 65 and over. Of those entries, 77% had reported a fall. 

UK HealthCare is committed to educating and improving the aging community's lifestyle so that less falls happen, and fewer hospital visits are needed. 

“In my work with the Kentucky Safe Aging Coalition, as well as having elderly relatives who have made emergency room visits because of falling, I have seen first-hand the impact of elderly people taking a fall,” said Roy Tapp, coordinator for the Kentucky Safe Aging Coalition. “Falling is a community health issue that is preventable. If we come together as a community to educate on the topic, injury and death from falling can be reduced.” 

Taking the initiative with a fall prevention plan can help adults 65 and older stay active, healthy, independent and enjoy a better quality of life.  

Community members can take initiative today by following the steps below recommended by the Kentucky Safe Aging Coalition: 

• Consult a health care provider to look for modifiable behaviors and medications to reduce the risk of falling. It is also a suitable time to check vitamin D levels, get an osteoporosis screening and schedule future regular health check-ups.  

• Get an eye exam. Proper vision can be a deterrent to falling and also allow one to enjoy other daily activities. 

• Conduct a “home assessment” to determine where there are potential fall dangers at home.