The Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory (IPRCE) has been awarded nearly $150,000 by the National Council on Aging and Administration for Community Living to strengthen Georgia’s fall prevention coalition. The funding is part of a national initiative involving 12 organizations, with IPRCE being one of six groups chosen to expand and enhance existing falls prevention coalitions.
Jonathan Rupp, PhD, Director of IPRCE, stated, “We are so proud to accept this grant to strengthen our fall prevention network and establish best practices for reducing falls among older adults in Georgia. Falls can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life. Preventing them takes all of us, not just one or two organizations. We’re excited to embark on this cross-sector work and support both older adults and their caregivers.”
Falls remain the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older Americans. In Georgia, approximately 30% of adults aged 65 and older experience a fall each year. Evidence-based programs and collaborative efforts between clinical and community organizations have been shown to help reduce these incidents.
During the 18-month grant period, IPRCE will focus on recruiting additional coalition members, identifying challenges in fall prevention across Georgia, setting priorities, and developing new programming aimed at reducing falls among seniors.
Rupp added, “Through the distribution of micro-grants and technical assistance, IPRCE aims to increase opportunities for community organizations to implement evidence-based fall prevention programming in communities across Georgia—particularly in rural regions where aging populations face higher risk of injury from falls.”
IPRCE is collaborating with groups such as the Georgia Department of Public Health and Area Agencies on Aging to assess local needs and provide training that supports program rollout. The center also works with libraries, trauma centers, faith-based communities, and other agencies to strengthen cooperation among coalition members. These initiatives are intended to facilitate evidence-based programming designed to lower fall rates and improve safety for older adults throughout Georgia.
Founded in 1993, IPRCE operates as a multi-institutional research center focused on addressing injury concerns in Georgia and the Southeast through data-driven and participatory approaches. Its taskforces cover topics such as drug safety, fall prevention, transportation safety, traumatic brain injury prevention, violence prevention, and equity in injury prevention.
