The Washington State Department of Health released a five-year plan on Friday to address the rate of older adults who are injured or die as a result of preventable falls.
More than 870 Washington residents died in 2016 as a result of injuries sustained in falls, which were the leading cause of injury and death for adults ages 65 and over from 1999 to 2016.
Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed Saturday to be Falls Prevention Awareness Day in conjunction with the plan put together by the Department of Heath and the Washington State Falls Prevention Coalition.
The plan contains six key objectives including increased public awareness and education, improved safety in homes and communities, and effective interventions for high-risk and underserved older adults.
For more information, visit doh.wa.gov
