Home hazards have been shown to be a risk factor for falls among older adults. To accomplish the target goal, the Connecticut Department of Public Health provided funds (via the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant) to selected Connecticut local health departments to conduct activities related to home modifications among older adults (i.e., correcting safety hazards). In 2013, the CTDPH Injury Prevention Office aimed to improve or correct 60% of safety hazards in the homes of local health departments (LHD) clients' homes. Between July 2013 and November 2015, LHDs corrected 75.83% of identified hazards (i.e., correcting 411 of 542 hazards). Between 2014 and 2015 the percentage of hazards corrected improved 29.2%, surpassing the intended goal by approximately 18%.

Local health departments -carry out home modification services for older adults using the Public Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG). In 2014 and 2015, the selected LHDs were Meriden Department of Health and Human Services and New Milford Health Department.

• Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention, Yale University. (http://www.fallprevention.org/index.htm)
  
• “A Tool Kit to Prevent Senior Falls” (National Center for Injury Prevention Control, Centers for Disease control and Prevention, 1999)
  
• Stevens JA, Burns ER. A CDC Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions: What Works for Community-Dwelling Older Adults. 3rd ed. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2015. (http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/compendium.html)
  
• National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Preventing Falls: A Guide to Implementing Effective Community-based Fall Prevention Programs. 2nd ed. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. (http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/community_preventfalls.html)

DPH is contracting with local health departments to carry out evidenced-based falls prevention activities. DPH recommends the use of effective and efficient best practices that yields positive outcomes.