1 in 4 older adults fall every year. A free UIndy class aims to prevent fall-related injuries

One in four adults age 65 or older fall every year. And falls are the leading cause of deaths caused by injuries for older adults. The University of Indianapolis will host a free class on fall prevention starting May 16.

The Stepping on Fall Prevention course is seven weeks and meets every Tuesday. The class helps people identify hazards in their home, connects them with health professionals to discuss how vision and medication can impact falling and offers exercise to improve strength. 

Becky Fee, a gerontologist at University of Indianapolis, helps run the class. She says the goal is to help older adults prevent falls and regain confidence. 

“It really helps people become more independent and stay independent and not injured,” Fee said. 

Fee says the fear of falling actually makes it more likely an older adult will fall. Falling once doubles the chance of falling again. 

“People who are afraid are just so fearful that they're gonna fall, then they get tentative, and just, like overcompensate and do too much and have a bigger risk of falling,” Fee said. 

Each year, 3 million older adults are treated in the emergency department for fall-related injuries. Fee says falls can have an impact both physically and financially. 

“If you broke your hip, having to have surgery, that's quite costly,” Fee said. “And then if you have to go to rehab at a nursing home, the financial toll to a senior citizen who falls and breaks something can really be quite large.” 

The course is open to people 60 and older. Those interested can register online, email feer@uindy.edu or call 317-791-5930.

Contact WFYI health reporter Darian Benson at dbenson@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @helloimdarian.