Falls Prevention Community Programs
Falls are the leading cause of injury in adults 65+ years old. However, falls can happen at any age.
The Maryland Trauma Quality Improvement Committee Injury Prevention Group has put together a list of community programs here in Maryland that offer falls prevention education.
Types of education:
- Exercise-based
- Didactic/Lecture-based
- Service-based, direct intervention
Maryland-wide
List of programs offered to all Maryland Residents.
Automated daily telephone services to check on residents 65+, Calls will take place between 8am and 4pm pre-selected by the participants. If the participant does NOT answer their first call, two more calls will be made. If those calls go unanswered, an alternative person pre-selected by the participant will be called (ex: child, neighbor, etc.) The alternate person will then be asked to go check on the participant. Failure to the participant and alternate to answer, a call will be placed to non-emergency service line.
Hosted by Maryland Department of Aging
Class Type: Service-based, direct intervention
Session Length/Duration: varies depending on need.
Cost: Free
Website: Senior Call Check
Educational class geared towards older adults (and/or caregivers and families of older adults) covering topics such as home safety, home modifications, medication management, exercises, and tips for taking to your doctor.
Hosted by R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
Class Type: Didactic/Lecture-based
Session Length: 1-2 hours
Cost: Free
Website: ThinkFirst
Anne Arundel County
List of programs offered to Anne Arundel County Residents.
A low-impact class focusing on joint stability, range of motion, posture, and balance. Perform exercises and movements to improve mobility and the functional fitness needed to complete everyday tasks.
Hosted by YMCA of Central Maryland
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in gym membership
Website: Y of Maryland
SLIP is an evidence-based program designed to address the needs of older adults, who are disproportionately at risk for poor outcomes following a fall injury.
The overall goal is to:
- Address older adult falls
- Recognize how good nutrition can help decrease chances of breaking a bone
- Increase awareness about knowing your medications and their side effects
- Teach you how to fall-proof your home
Hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital
Session Length: 40-minutes
Cost: Free
Website: SLIP Program at JHH
Baltimore City
List of programs offered to Baltimore City Residents.
A low-impact class focusing on joint stability, range of motion, posture, and balance. Perform exercises and movements to improve mobility and the functional fitness needed to complete everyday tasks.
Hosted by YMCA of Central Maryland
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in gym membership
Website: Y of Maryland
SLIP is an evidence-based program designed to address the needs of older adults, who are disproportionately at risk for poor outcomes following a fall injury.
The overall goal is to:
- Address older adult falls
- Recognize how good nutrition can help decrease chances of breaking a bone
- Increase awareness about knowing your medications and their side effects
- Teach you how to fall-proof your home
Hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital
Session Length: 40-minutes
Cost: Free
Website: SLIP Program at JHH
Baltimore County
List of programs offered to Baltimore County Residents.
Bingo-like evidence based program that aims to help older adults maintain mobility, independence, learn information on falls reduction, and improved nutrition.
Hosted by Baltimore County Department of Aging
Class Type: Exercise-based, Didactic/Lecture-based
Duration: 10-week program that meets 2x/week
Session Length: 1 hour each session
Cost: included in $80 annual fee
Website: Bingocize
Physical activities that can be performed while seated in a chair or at a desk, aimed to improve strength and function.
Hosted by Baltimore County Department of Aging
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in $80 annual fee
Website: Chair Exercise Classes
Evidence based exercise group and falls prevention program aimed at increasing fitness and learning exercise tools for strength, training, balance, and flexibility.
Hosted by Baltimore County Department of Aging
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in $80 annual fee
Website: Enhance Fitness
A low-impact class focusing on joint stability, range of motion, posture, and balance. Perform exercises and movements to improve mobility and the functional fitness needed to complete everyday tasks.
Hosted by YMCA of Central Maryland
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in gym membership
Website: Y of Maryland
Class that aims to improve coordination and well-being with exercise.
Hosted by Baltimore County Department of Aging
Cost: included in $80 annual fee
Website: Move with Balance
Rock Steady Boxing is an exercise program designed to improve the mobility, balance, and strength of people fighting Parkinson’s. Placement in class requires an assessment by the instructor.
Hosted by YMCA of Central Maryland
Duration: 1-month program
Session: 1 hour
Cost: included in gym membership
Website: Rock Steady Boxing
SLIP is an evidence-based program designed to address the needs of older adults, who are disproportionately at risk for poor outcomes following a fall injury.
The overall goal is to:
- Address older adult falls
- Recognize how good nutrition can help decrease chances of breaking a bone
- Increase awareness about knowing your medications and their side effects
- Teach you how to fall-proof your home
Hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital
Session Length: 40-minutes
Cost: Free
Website: SLIP Program at JHH
Low impact exercise with slow movements aimed to improve balance and flexbility. Aims to address muscle weakness, poor balance, poor vision, and lack of confidence by utilizing tai chi movements. Participants can elect to either purchase DVD’s and follow the program on their own or register for 1 hour long group classes led by a certified trainer. Participants led through a warm up, directed movement, and then cooldown.
Hosted by Baltimore County Department of Aging
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session: varies
Cost: included in $80 annual fee
Website: Tai Chi
Carroll County
List of programs offered to Carroll County Residents.
A low-impact class focusing on joint stability, range of motion, posture, and balance. Perform exercises and movements to improve mobility and the functional fitness needed to complete everyday tasks.
Hosted by YMCA of Central Maryland
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in gym membership
Website: Y of Maryland
SLIP is an evidence-based program designed to address the needs of older adults, who are disproportionately at risk for poor outcomes following a fall injury.
The overall goal is to:
- Address older adult falls
- Recognize how good nutrition can help decrease chances of breaking a bone
- Increase awareness about knowing your medications and their side effects
- Teach you how to fall-proof your home
Hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital
Session Length: 40-minutes
Cost: Free
Website: SLIP Program at JHH
Frederick County
List of programs offered to Frederick County Residents.
SLIP is an evidence-based program designed to address the needs of older adults, who are disproportionately at risk for poor outcomes following a fall injury.
The overall goal is to:
- Address older adult falls
- Recognize how good nutrition can help decrease chances of breaking a bone
- Increase awareness about knowing your medications and their side effects
- Teach you how to fall-proof your home
Hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital
Session Length: 40-minutes
Cost: Free
Website: SLIP Program at JHH
Harford County
List of programs offered to Harford County Residents.
A low-impact class focusing on joint stability, range of motion, posture, and balance. Perform exercises and movements to improve mobility and the functional fitness needed to complete everyday tasks.
Hosted by YMCA of Central Maryland
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in gym membership
Website: Y of Maryland
SLIP is an evidence-based program designed to address the needs of older adults, who are disproportionately at risk for poor outcomes following a fall injury.
The overall goal is to:
- Address older adult falls
- Recognize how good nutrition can help decrease chances of breaking a bone
- Increase awareness about knowing your medications and their side effects
- Teach you how to fall-proof your home
Hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital
Session Length: 40-minutes
Cost: Free
Website: SLIP Program at JHH
Howard County
List of programs offered to Howard County Residents.
Low-impact physical activity program proven to reduce pain and decrease stiffness. Includes gentle range-of-motion exercises that are suitable for every fitness level and ability. Led by a trained program leader
Hosted by Howard County Office on Aging and Independence
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Join others with similar goals, and learn proper techniques to improve your balance under the guidance of instructors trained in the evidence-based Better Balance protocol. A pre-screening is required before enrolling.
Hosted by Howard County Office on Aging and Independence
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Website: Better Balance
The purpose of the program is to provide resources and support for healthy aging in the community. Services include: Home safety consultations. Home modifications and durable medical equipment. Cognitive screenings. Education and training sessions. Student internships for occupational therapy students.
Hosted by Howard County Office on Aging and Independence
Class Type: Service-based, direct intervention
Session Length: varies depending on need
Cost: services are subject to the availability of funds. Priority is given to lower income status.
Website: Community Living Program
A low-impact class focusing on joint stability, range of motion, posture, and balance. Perform exercises and movements to improve mobility and the functional fitness needed to complete everyday tasks.
Hosted by YMCA of Central Maryland
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: included in gym membership
Website: Y of Maryland
Multiple resources and links for Howard County residents seeking information/education on falls prevention. The Local Health Improvement Coalition is a community partnership of more than 40 organizations that is managed by Healthy Howard and funded by the Howard County Health Department.
Hosted by Howard County Health Department
Contact: LHIC@healthyhowardmd.org
Rock Steady Boxing is an exercise program designed to improve the mobility, balance, and strength of people fighting Parkinson’s. Placement in class requires an assessment by the instructor.
Hosted by Howard County Office on Aging and Independence
Class Type: Exercise-based
Duration: 1 month
Session Length: 1 hour
Cost: ~$100
Website: Rock Steady Boxing
SLIP is an evidence-based program designed to address the needs of older adults, who are disproportionately at risk for poor outcomes following a fall injury.
The overall goal is to:
- Address older adult falls
- Recognize how good nutrition can help decrease chances of breaking a bone
- Increase awareness about knowing your medications and their side effects
- Teach you how to fall-proof your home
Hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital
Session Length: 40-minutes
Cost: Free
Website: SLIP Program at JHH
Montgomery County
List of programs offered to Montgomery County Residents.
Fitness programs designed for adults 55+ to help slow aging, prevent injury, focus on stability and balance.
Hosted by Montgomery County Department of Recreation & Holy Cross Health
Cost: Free
Website: Senior Fit
Queen Anne's County
List of programs offered to Queen Anne's County Residents.
Evidence based exercise group and falls prevention program aimed at increasing fitness and learning exercise tools for strength, training, balance, and flexibility. Group fitness used to motivate older adults to becomes more active. Exercises have been packaged into a formal regimen focusing on four key areas important to the health and fitness of mature participants: low impact cardiovascular; dynamic/static balance work, strength training and stretching. Instructors provide own music.
Hosted by Queen Anne’s County Government – Area Agency on Aging Senior Centers
Class Type: Exercise-based
Session Length: 1 hour
Website: Enhance Fitness
Wicomico County
List of programs offered to Wicomico County Residents.
Sessions are conducted in small group format with 2 facilitators. Comprised of seven modules surrounding the theme of fall safety and injury prevention. Topics include: falls and risk, strength and balance exercises, home hazards, safe footwear and safe clothing, vision as it relates to falls, coping after a fall, and understanding medication risks. designed for people who are living at home and have experienced a fall or at risk for falling; Focuses on exercises, home hazards, community safety, footwear, medication management, vision, and future plans.
Hosted by MAC Inc.
Class Type: Exercise-based; Didactic/Lecture-based
Duration: 7 weeks
Session Length: 1 hour each session
Website: Stepping On
Delaware
List of programs offered to Delaware Residents.
Helps reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels in older adults.
Hosted by Delaware Coalition for Injury Prevention
Class Type: Exercise-based; Didactic/Lecture-based
Duration: 7 sessions
Session Length: 2 hours each session
Website: Matter of Balance
