• Falls among older adults are preventable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) initiative to help healthcare providers incorporate fall prevention strategies into routine care for older adults.  STEADI includes screening tools, educational materials and resources, and online trainings. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) supports the training and use of STEADI to assist healthcare providers. NMDOH partners with organizations that work with older adults to reduce fear and risk of falling, hip and other lower extremity fractures, and reduce the state burden of traumatic brain injury while increasing an ability to live independently.
• New Mexico’s fall-related death rates were 1.7 times greater than the U.S. average in 2015. STEADI recommends that individuals aged 65 years and older have scheduled checks and screenings and start an exercise program.
• 406 healthcare providers were trained in New Mexico (NM) on how to implement STEADI. NMDOH partners with, and is a member of, the New Mexico Adult Falls Prevention Coalition that raises awareness and supports training healthcare providers.
• NMDOH makes recommendations within health systems and communities to create sustainability changes for injury prevention, health promotion and education for older adults.
• In FY18, NMDOH will train STEADI to an additional 350 healthcare professionals while those trained in FY17 will continue to implement STEADI while working with older adults.

• NMDOH
• AARP
• NM Adult Falls Prevention Coalition
• NM Aging and Long-Term Services Department/Aging and Disability Resource Center
• University of NM Health System
• Indian Health Service
• New Mexico State University (NMSU) Kinesiology and Dance
• Presbyterian Health System
• CHRISTUS St. Vincent Outpatient Services
• NM Primary Care Association
• NM Healthy Aging Collaborative
• NM Injury Prevention Coalition
• Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center (GCRMC)

Best practices include clinical assessments implemented through the use of the STEADI toolkit for adults aged 65 years and older to identify those adults who are at an increased risk for falls and offer effective strategies to reduce those risks. NMDOH supports five evidence-based falls prevention/exercise programs: STEADI, OTAGO, Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, A Matter of Balance, and Tai Chi for Arthritis. These practices include:

• Conducting annual screenings for strength and balance.
• Providing annual medication reviews and management for older adults.
• Conducting annual vision exams for older adults.
• Providing patient counseling on home and environmental safety.
• Providing education and referrals to older adults for physical activity classes such as Matter of Balance (MOB), OTAGO, or Tai Chi.
• Reviewing vitamin D supplementation as appropriate.

• Expand the network of instructors available state-wide for evidence-based falls prevention exercise programs. 
• Increase the number of professionals trained on the use of the STEADI toolkit.

The Adult Falls Prevention Program will give four trainings in FY18 to have a minimum of 350 additional health care professionals trained on the use of the STEADI toolkit.  

• Q1:  One additional training for approximately 100 additional health care professionals trained on the use of the STEADI toolkit. Work with community partners and “Balance for Life” to increase the number of health care providers and other professionals who provide services to older adults to become trained on the use of the STEADI toolkit: Not met. Expand the network of instructors available statewide for evidence-based falls prevention exercise programs: Met. 
• Q2:  One scheduled training for 100 health care professionals.  Continue to expand the network of instructors available statewide for evidence-based falls prevention exercise programs.  The Program will also sponsor an additional evidence-based falls prevention program, “Tai Chi for Arthritis”. Completed
• Q3:  One scheduled training for 100 health care professionals.  Further expand the network of instructors available statewide for evidence-based falls prevention exercise programs.   
• Q4:  One scheduled training for 100 health care professionals.  Finish-up FY18 efforts to expand the network of instructors available statewide for evidence-based falls prevention exercise programs, emphasizing underserved counties.