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Falls Prevention Awareness Month and Day
Activity Check-List

Use this check list to assist in the planning and implementation of your community’s Fall Prevention Awareness Month activities.  For more detailed information please visit the CDC Guidelines for Developing Community-based Fall Prevention Programs.   

___   Identify the goal of the event—what do you want to achieve?

  • Increase awareness of falls and ways to prevent falls?
  • Complete balance and strength screening on x number of seniors?
  • Increase enrollment in exercise programs such as Tai Chi?
  • Create partnerships with other organizations with similar goals?
  • Other

___   Identify your target audience.

  • All senior citizens in your community?
  • Members of a senior center?
  • Caretakers of senior citizens?
  • Healthcare staff?
  • Other

___   Decide what type of event you would like to hold

  • Informational presentation
  • Health fair
  • Exercise class
  • Luncheon
  • Other

___   Identify the best location for the event—make sure to consider the size of the space, parking and handicap accessibility.

  • Senior Center
  • Hospital Atrium
  • Public Health Department
  • Park (remember to take weather into consideration)
  • Mall
  • Fitness Center
  • Local Restaurant or Café
  • Other

___   Pick a date and time—make sure to consider the community calendar so that your celebration does not compete with a local event, such as a craft fair or fall festival, or a popular vacation time in the community.

___   Invest in partnerships—contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center or other community organizations to see if they would be interested in helping plan and run your event.  If they are unable to partake in the planning process ask if they would be willing to sponsor the event or make a donation. 

___   Find sponsors and/or donations for the event.

  • Ideas for donations
    • In-kind donations for staff time
    • Lunch, coffee, food etc.
    • Funds for materials
    • Space
    • Give-a-ways or door prizes –tickets to community events, free coffee or ice cream coupons, plants, gift certificates, etc.
  • Ask local hospitals, clinics or therapy offices if they would be willing to donate staff to speak at your event and/or complete screenings and medication checks
  • Ask a restaurant or café to provide lunch or a light snack
  • Ask a local store to donate supplies to create fall prevention kits –these kits can include information about falls, a self assessment, a schedule of exercise classes in the community, a reduced cost eye exam, night lights, safety strips for the shower, home safety checklist, etc.
  • Ask a copy shop to donate supplies to print off fliers for the event
  • Ask community organizations to provide volunteers or any equipment that might be needed (tables, chairs)

___   Identify the “hook”—what is it that will motivate people to participate?

___   Make arrangements for speakers, food, and activities –create a rough draft of the program for the day to better visualize when speakers should arrive, how long they have to speak, and when food should be delivered and set out. 

___   Publicize the event. Use Resources (new page) for assistance. 

  • Send out invitations
  • Send out a mailing—one mailing may not be enough.
  • Write a newspaper article or letter to the editor
  • Hang fliers in public locations such as grocery stores, doctors’ offices, libraries, pharmacies, restaurants, etc.
  • Place announcements in church bulletins and school flyers
  • Create a public service announcement or ask local radio stations to advertise the event
  • Send out e-mail advertisements through list-serves at senior centers, health departments, and community organizations
  • Create an event on Facebook  

___    Finalize your program and create an event-day timeline from set-up to clean-up.

  • Check that you have enough volunteers to help run the event
  • Check that you have all needed supplies to run your event

___   Verify all arrangements with speakers, volunteers, and workers –make sure people know when to arrive, how long they will be needed and coordinate what supplies they will need.

___   Arrive early and brief all participants before the start of the event.

___   Remember to follow-up with all sponsors and volunteers to thank them for their time or donations

___   Write a follow-up newspaper article highlighting the success of the event and positive impact on your community.

___   Hold a “Lessons Learned” meeting to evaluate the event. 

Click here to return to the main Falls Prevention Awareness Month and Day page.