Falls Prevention

As a key member organization of the Long Term Care Committee (LTCC), Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County along with four other key partner agencies; County Office for the Aging (COFA), Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC), Tompkins County Emergency Management, Lifelong and the Health Planning Council (HPC), which is a program of the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, will be taking a lead role in the development of the design of the Falls Prevention Coalition (FPC) Plan.

Each of the coalition's member organizations has expertise in and commitment to serving seniors, including those most affected by problems related to falls. In the Falls Prevention Coalition, key members will serve on the Steering Committee, take the lead in coordinating input from their sector and contribute to the design of the FPC plan. In conjunction with other committed partners and seniors, they will also review the toolkit materials, assess implementation strategies, develop measurement indicators, and identify potential resources in their own organization and the community.

Key partners have a strong history of collaborative efforts to improve services for older adults. Joint projects have included the establishment of Tompkins County Hospicare, Long Term Care Insurance pamphlet, Head Over Heels falls prevention presentation and materials, On My Own Terms (end of life coalition), community-wide home health aide recognition events, COFA's Millennium Needs Assessment, Long Term Care Needs Assessment of Tompkins County, the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and a loan closet for assistive devices. The Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (CHFWCNY) funded projects have included Sharing Your Wishes, the Long Term Care Workforce Initiative, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, Long Term Care Needs Assessment of Tompkins County and the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.

Better Housing, Cayuga Medical Center, Long Term Care Services of Tompkins County, Tompkins County Health Department have recently committed to this mission.  They will broaden our scope of understanding and educate us about fall risk factors and preventative practices. Participation of elders and their care partners will be primary sources of information.

The overarching goal is to reduce falls and their negative consequences. Our collaborative efforts will help us develop and implement a local multi-faceted Falls Prevention plan that will establish changes which can be sustained. Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County is proud to be a key partner in service to our community.