Balance & Fall Prevention

If you—or someone you love—is over the age of 65, the odds of you taking a fall are one-in-three.

These falls can result in injury, hospitalization and ultimately a loss of your independence and quality of life.

EvergreenHealth's Fall Prevention Program is designed to identify fall risk factors and provide you with a plan to prevent falls from happening.

Assessing Your Risk For a Fall

Our program is led by a team of therapists who specialize in fall prevention. They'll begin by conducting an evidence-based evaluation that will review and assess your:

• balance
• gait (walking)
• strength
• lower extremity sensation
• coordination
• medications
• fall risk factors in your home and community environments
• vision impairments

After the assessment, your therapist will review the level of your fall risk.

Creating Your Fall Prevention Plan

Together, you and your therapist will then create an individualized fall prevention plan, which may include one-to-one therapy or simply starting a home exercise program.

Your fall prevention plan may include:

• Balance exercises
• Strength exercises
• Cardio exercises
• Development of a home exercise program
• Advice on how to reduce fall risks in your home
• Help with selecting and using appropriate assistive device (cane, walker, hiking poles)
• Recommendations for appropriate community fall prevention/exercise programs

Fall Prevention Resources

Checklist

Use this fall prevention checklist to evaluate your home for fall hazards.

Download our Fall Prevention Checklist

Podcast

Geriatrician Dr. Marissa Black discusses the causes of falls, risks that may be in your home and how to prevent falls. Listen to the podcast, or read a transcript.

Videos

Videos of our Fall Prevention Workshop are available below or on the EvergreenHealth YouTube channel.

Part 1 - How to Prevent Falls

Part 2 - All About Balance

Part 3 - Occupational Therapy and Fall Prevention

Is a referral needed?

You don't need a provider referral to schedule an appointment, but we strongly encourage you get one as your insurance may require it to begin treatment.

Download our referral form (PDF)