Northwest Wisconsin Falls Prevention Collaborative

Developing organizational system practices to prevent falls in older adults

Full Project Name:Northwest Wisconsin Falls Prevention CollaborativePrimary Community Organization:University of Wisconsin-SuperiorPrimary Academic Partner:Peter M Layde, MD, MSc, Emergency MedicineAward Amount:$45,588

Award Date

August2006

Project Duration:12 months

Project Description Narrative:

Fall-related injuries for older adults in Wisconsin occur at higher rates than national averages, and more so in rural Wisconsin. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury death for those aged 65 and older in Barron, Washburn, and Douglas counties. Due to fragmentation among providers in the counties’ social service and medical systems, and a lack of widespread knowledge on care for at-risk seniors, patients may not receive appropriate and comprehensive care.

This project will develop organizational system practices for medical groups, public health, and social services agencies in these three counties. They will coordinate address the issues of falls and fall-related injury, and address prevention and intervention resources and services.

Community partners: Lakeview Medical Center, Washburn County Health and Human Services Department, Washburn County Unit on Aging, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Spooner Health System, and Barron County Aging and Disability Resource Center