Kentucky summit addresses growing impact of falls among older adults
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Falls continue to pose a growing health and safety concern for Kentucky’s aging population. In 2025, 10,266 Kentuckians aged 65 and older were hospitalized as a result of fall-related injuries, the highest number recorded during the eight-year period.
Kentucky also recorded from 2018–2025, 2,787 Kentuckians aged 65 and older died from fall-related injuries, an average of nearly 348 deaths each year. During the same period, older Kentuckians experienced 73,303 fall-related inpatient hospitalizations, averaging more than 9,100 hospitalizations annually, according to the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC) fact sheet “Falls among Older Adults.”
In response to the growing risk falls pose to older adults, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has proclaimed Sept. 21–26 as Fall Prevention Awareness Week to increase public awareness of fall-related injuries and deaths among older adults in Kentucky.
“One of the results of the Commonwealth’s aging population is the growing number and resulting consequences of falls experienced by those 65 years old and older,” said Roy Tapp, coordinator of the Kentucky Safe Aging Coalition (KSAC).
KSAC is committee of the Kentucky Safety and Prevention Alignment Network—a network with over 480 members of public and private organizations, and individuals, dedicated to promoting safety and preventing injuries, KSAC connects state and local organizations with fall-prevention information and resources and supports activities associated with Falls Prevention Awareness Week, September 21-25.
As part of the awareness week, KSAC will host the 2026 Virtual Fall and Osteoporosis Prevention Summit on Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom. Registration is free and open to the public.
“The summit topics were selected to bring current professionals together to share their unique information and best practices, as well as new ideas and trends in fall and osteoporosis prevention,” Tapp said.
Sessions will examine balance and mobility interventions, home modifications, behavioral health, osteoporosis, fragility hip fractures, and community prevention resources. The program will also address the effects of social isolation and suicide among older adults. The variety of topics reflects the many physical, medical, behavioral and environmental factors that can contribute to falls.
For example, changes in vision, hearing, muscle strength, balance and reaction time can increase fall risk. Health conditions, medication interactions, osteoporosis and traumatic brain injuries are also important considerations.
“All of these factors, as well as living in an unsafe environment, can contribute to the increased risk of falls in older adults,” Tapp said.
Tapp said falls are not an inevitable part of aging, but fear and misinformation can prevent older adults from seeking help.
He recalled an incident recently when a rural Eastern Kentucky health department contacted KSAC after learning about an older resident with multiple health concerns who had fallen repeatedly. The individual had not told family members or a physician because of a mistaken belief that reporting the falls would lead to the government taking the individual’s home and requiring nursing home placement.
KSAC provided straightforward educational materials about falls to the older resident, as well as willing to provide more future assistance as warranted by the Eastern Kentucky health department. “The last we heard, the elderly lady did meet with her physician to receive medical screening to try to determine the causes of her falls plus assistive devices for better mobility,” Tapp said.
The experience illustrates how accessible information can encourage an individual to speak with a healthcare provider, undergo an assessment and learn about resources that may support safer mobility.
The summit offers continuing education for social workers, nurses and certified community health workers. The Kentucky Board of Social Work has approved the program for 5.15 credits. The nursing program offers 6.18 approved hours, and the Office of Community Health Workers has approved the training to provide 5.15 continuing education units for certified community health workers.
Tapp said the summit’s impact should extend beyond the people attending its sessions.
“After the conclusion of the summit, each participant will leave with a shared understanding of the covered information and best practices which can be passed on to the co-workers and adults aged 65 or older,” he said.
For additional information on KSAC or the Fall and Osteoporosis Prevention Summit, contact Roy Tapp at rtapp2@uky.edu or visit the KSPAN older adult safety webpage.
KIPRC, a unique partnership between the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, serves both as an academic injury prevention research center and as the DPH’s designee or “bona fide agent” for statewide injury prevention and control, focusing on injury prevention translation and practice.
Produced by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, as bona fide agent for the Kentucky Department for Public Health. June 2026. This report is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of cooperative agreement 5NU17CE010064 totaling $1,250,000 with 0% financed with nongovernmental sources and by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) as part of cooperative agreement PON2 728 2600003301. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CHFS, CDC,HHS, or the U.S. government.