Northwest Illinois Agency on Aging presents: Fall risk awareness for seniors

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Northwest Illinois Area Agency on Aging is hosting a presentation this Friday to help seniors identify fall risks in their homes.

The event, part of Fall Prevention Awareness Week, will feature Sullivan Home Improvement Solutions and aims to educate seniors on potential dangers both inside and outside their homes.

“It’s 167-some-thousand older adults living in our area. And many of them are high-risk for falls, and nutrition, and environmental factors that really impact their life,” said NIAAA executive director Jeffrey Barnes.

According to the CDC, over nine million seniors were injured during a fall last year, and these numbers are increasing.

The presentation will take place at noon at the agency’s office on South Alpine Road and is free to attend.

Attendees will have the chance to win a free fall detection device, while supplies last.

The initiative underscores the importance of fall prevention to help seniors maintain their independence and live with dignity.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.