S – Screening
Provide some sort of screening or testing. Physical therapists are excellent resources in this area. The Timed Up and Go, leg strength, flexibility, the Berg or Tinetti balance tests and vision screening are possibilities.

M – Motivate
Be enthusiastic and provide speakers or professionals who relate well to seniors. Be clear and direct in at least one area where they can leave your event with a tool to make one positive change within one week. Fall prevention is multi-faceted “Rome cannot be changed in a day”. Keep it simple and be realistic with what you define success to be.

I – Inform
Most communities have fall prevention activities already in place even though they may or may not be called that. Making a simple handout of exercise classes for seniors available in your area with location and a phone number is a good start. Other resources you might include are fall risk clinics, physicians and physical and occupational therapists specializing in geriatrics, agencies that provide help with installation of grab bars, handrails and ramps, home health agencies and other community based opportunities for seniors. Again, do what you can with the time you have available. If you can only provide one handout or brochure, that’s fine. Try to recruit others in your community to come up with one resource each.

L – Learning Opportunities
Recruit health care professionals to educate seniors on one aspect of fall risk. The Centers for Disease Control’s recommendations for fall prevention include the four Pearls: Regular exercise, Medication review, Vision exams, Home safety evaluation.

This could be in different formats, such as lectures, videos or information tables in a health fair setting. Since most will be donating their time be specific as to what area you want them to cover and keep their time to a minimum. Starting early to line these people up is a good idea. Providing brochures is also helpful and the Centers for Disease Control and the Northwest Orthopedic Institute have some options available.

E – Exercise
If at all possible, provide an opportunity for the seniors to do some exercise. Check with your local gyms, physical therapists, colleges or fitness centers to see if someone has an instructor who works with seniors and could lead a short safe exercise or warm-up routine that emphasizes leg strength and balance exercises. Tai Chi has also been shown to be beneficial in preventing falls. Keep safety in mind and under do rather than overdo.