NCOA Selects 18 Organizations to Test a New Approach to Falls Prevention for Older Adults

Grantees to implement and test initiatives identified by ACL Innovation Lab

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Key Takeaways:

• NCOA has awarded grants to 18 organizations to implement and test the effectiveness of falls prevention activities identified by the ACL Innovation Lab.
• These activities aim to address gaps in community needs that have not been effectively addressed by existing evidence-based programs.
• Each grantee will receive up to $290,000 over two years to conduct and test their falls prevention activities.

ARLINGTON, Va., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person's right to age well, has chosen 18 organizations to receive funding under the ACL Innovation Lab, operated by NCOA and supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Over two years, grantees will deliver activities selected from a newly developed taxonomy for falls prevention and test whether they offer a flexible, adaptable, and relevant option to address their communities' falls prevention needs.

"We have seen the successes of evidence-based falls prevention programs in the field, but it is important to explore new avenues for preventing falls that suit the varying capacity and resources of organizations serving a range of communities," said Emily Nabors, Associate Director of Innovation for NCOA's Center for Healthy Aging. "Grantees had the freedom to select activities that are right for their community, build on their existing services, and can be sustained with the resources and capacity they have. It's an exciting opportunity that could advance the evolution of falls prevention programming."

Activities are broken down into three categories: physical activity, home modification and assistive devices, and education and behavior change. Options within these categories range from balance exercises to education about proper use of walkers and hearing aids, to addressing concerns about falling. Throughout the project period, grantees will receive technical assistance to build their capacity and engage their communities in decisions and activities to ensure their efforts reflect the needs, interests, values, and desires of community members.

The organizations receiving ACL Innovation Lab funding include:

1. Bridge to Health NM – Espanola, New Mexico
2. Center for Better Aging – Chicago, Illinois
3. Chinese Information and Service Center – Seattle, Washington
4. Delta Health Alliance – Leland, Mississippi
5. Elder Options – Gainesville, Florida
6. High Country Area Agency on Aging – Boone, North Carolina
7. Live Healthy Little Havana, Inc. – Miami, Florida
8. Los Angeles LGBT Center - Senior Services – Los Angeles, California
9. Mac Inc Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence – Salisbury, Maryland
10. Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
11. Quality Insights Inc. – Charleston, West Virginia
12. RIPIN – Warwick, Rhode Island
13. Sticht Center on Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention; Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Advocate Health System – Winston-Salem, North Carolina
14. The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale – Riverdale, New York
15. United Church Homes – Marion, Ohio
16. United Community Center – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
17.  University of Hawaii Center on the Family – Honolulu, Hawaii
18. VCU Injury and Violence Prevention Program – Richmond, Virginia

Falls are common among older adults, with one in four Americans ages 65 and older experiencing a fall each year, resulting in billions of dollars in health care costs. However, falls are preventable. This effort builds on the decades of falls prevention work in the aging network to improve our understanding of what works, how, and for which populations.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person's right to age well. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more by following us at @NCOAging.

SOURCE National Council on Aging