In partnership with REMSA Health and the Reno Fire Department (RFD), Sanford Center for Aging is working to mitigate falls in the region. A grant provided by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) of $75,000 will fund the development of an innovative approach to reduce falls in the community.
When REMSA or RFD respond to a community member for a fall-related incident, crews from those organizations will inform the individual about this new program and ask if they would like to be referred to Sanford Center. Sanford Center will then provide a falls assessment and based on the results, provide a tailored list of recommendations and resources. After four weeks, Sanford Center will check in with the older adult to determine if the action list was executed. Resources will include home safety and medication recommendations.
“We are intentionally providing participants with brief, yet meaningful resources and educational materials to avoid overwhelming them,” said Hannah Linden, MPH, director of health and wellness for Sanford Center for Aging. “Of the resources we provide, there are also some that are not always thought of in connection to falls. For example, pelvic floor specialists who can help with incontinence and nutrition guidelines to help ensure our bones stay strong. We are also providing simple and easy to follow guides for balance and strength exercises, tip sheets for walking on snow and ice, vision and hearing resources, and more.”
In 2020 in Nevada, 29.9 percent of adults 65 and over reported a fall according to the . While in 2021, there were 325 deaths from a fall.
“With RFD being the largest fire department in the region, we respond to a multitude of falls every day,” said Kim Eastman, EMS coordinator for RFD. “By working with this program, we will be able to report needs in a timely manner leading to better patient follow-up and appropriate care. Hopefully this program will help keep patients safely in their home, decrease hospital admissions and provide more appropriate resources.”
Nevada ranks 21st in the country for recorded falls in older adults over 65 years old. For comparison, Montana ranks 48th with 35.3 percent while New Jersey ranks 1st with only 22 percent according to .
“In 2024, REMSA Health responded to more than 80,000 911 calls for service,” said Laura Lingeman, integrated health manager for REMSA Health. “Approximately 12.8 percent of those were for fall-related incidents. That statistic becomes even more concerning because the ҹɫÊÓƵ Extension estimates that between the years 2000 and 2030, Nevada's 65 and older population will increase by 260 percent, likely leading to many more responses for fall related incidents.”
Falling once doubles the chances of an individual falling again. Emergency medical services (EMS) like REMSA Health and RFD are the first to respond to falls, placing strain on emergency services. This new program fills this gap by offering timely, personalized prevention support in order to reduce repeat falls.
