Ohio Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Program - The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and partners will expand access to A Matter of Balance (MOB) and Tai Chi for Arthritis-Fall Prevention (TCA) programs for older adults (60+) in greatest economic and social need, consistent with the Older Americans Act, and adults with disabilities through Goal 1-develop an innovative fall prevention program to include person-centered approaches to reduce and prevent falls by expanding capacity in the MOB and TCA, both in-person and virtual, programs in new areas with Objectives 1-2-Expand TCA and MOB in targeted areas; and 3-provide person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate guidance/resources to facilitators; and Goal 2- evaluation to assess impacts on reducing the risk of falls through the select fall prevention programs, and develop and disseminate Section 508-compliant program results, resources with objectives 1- develop a plan to evaluate the impact of effort and next step for older adult participants; and 2- implementation of communications/dissemination plan to share outcomes and resources with statewide partners. Total number of participants is 6,700 with 3,500 in MOB and 3,200 in TCA: 1,675 in year one; 1,675 in year two, and 3,350 in year three. Key partners for statewide implementation include Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), Ohio Injury Prevention Partnership (OIPP), Ohio Older Adult Falls Prevention Coalition (OOAFPC), local service providers, and ODH’s Violence and Injury Epidemiology Surveillance Section. Target population includes older adults and adults with disabilities in Ohio residing in counties with high rates of unintentional fall related deaths in two targeted areas.
