Senior Life: Bringing more awareness to fall prevention in 2026

It is a new year, and for some of us (maybe for all of us) we have high hopes for a better life this year: Cheaper prices, fewer deaths for friends and family, and healthier, safer lives for ourselves.

One of these “hopes” for many of us is for a safer (no falls) year ahead. Did you know that 14 million (one in four) Americans over the age of 65 fell last year? According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of fatalities and non-fatal injuries among older adults. Falls cost Medicare $20 billion every year.

Knowing this, the National Administration for Community Living created the National Falls Prevention Administration Plan in 2025. There are six parts to this program, which primarily wants to broaden the awareness of programs that already exist.

The program encourages broader funding to establish programs in neighborhoods, as well as more cooperation between agencies to promote programs. And more interesting, this program encourages the "harnessing of technology” to help develop falls prevention products.

The premise of the National Falls Prevention Administration Plan is that falls are preventable. Their statistics show that there is a 56% reduction in falls when an individual has participated in a community-based program. Portage County Health Department does offer a SAIL program within our county and the program is free. The program consists of attending a number of group classes, coordinated by a trained Health Department staff member.

SAIL stands for Stay Active and Independent for Life. The premise of this program is that if we stay active we will reduce our chances of falling and improve our strength, balance, and flexibility, which are all crucial for maintaining independence and reducing our risk of falls.

If you are interested in becoming involved with one of these area classes, call Kim at the Portage County Health Department, 330-296-9919. Classes are being offered throughout Portage County.

If you do fall (I did last year), remember that this is 2026, that modern medicine “can put us back together.” We do not have to end up like Humpty Dumpty.

Be careful when you go out in this weather to prevent falling, but also remember that the Portage County Health Department still has a pop up food pantry the first Wednesday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. Kent State Dix Stadium's Pop Up Pantry will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 and NEOMED’s Pop Up pantry will be from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26.
Remember you will need to take residence identification as well as your personal ID. (Think in terms of a utility bill, etc.)

Contact Sally Kelly with your senior news at 330-687-9501 or sentrip65@yahoo.com.