Falls are one of the leading causes for fatal and non-fatal injuries for older adults across the country.
The San Antonio Area Foundation joins community partners in highlighting this issue through National Falls Prevention Awareness Week this month.

Not only can the physical effects of a fall be catastrophic both for an individual’s immediate and long-term future, but the effects on someone’s emotional and mental health can be equally devastating and often involve them having to move out of their homes.
Even a fall without an injury can impact older adults and their quality of life. A fall can affect a person’s mental and emotional health, causing them to isolate themselves out of fear of falling again. This can lead to depression and a rapid decline in overall health.
The Area Foundation’s Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio (SALSA) program has taken up the cause of raising awareness for falls prevention as part of its Aging in Place campaign.
“One of the areas that SALSA has been focusing on in the last three years is proactively planning for older adults to age in place,” said Sarah Davis, SALSA’s AmeriCorps VISTA Director. “The components that we address are home modifications, social connection, using technology as a friend and transportation.”
SALSA uses presentations in the community with the goal of having a conversation about a truly difficult topic that we all face: aging. Getting people to think about what people will need and what it will truly take to remain in their homes and remain engaged, active and part of their communities.
“Nearly 90 percent of older adults want to remain in their homes as they grow older,” Davis said. “The goal [of Aging in Place] is to help people proactively plan ahead to avoid chaos happening if a challenge comes up, such as loss of mobility.”
According to SALSA research, only 6.5 percent of older adults in the U.S. currently reside in nursing homes or other assisted living places. This means that the vast majority are still living at home, which is a positive.
However, while the goal is to remain at home for as long as possible, the always present peril of an unintentional fall is always looming for older adults.
According to the National Council on Aging, 14 million adults aged 65 and older – which accounts for a staggering one in four – experiences a fall each year. With each fall, the risk becomes exponentially greater to have one occur again. Preventing falls is a cause that many of SALSA’s partners have taken on.
“Some common issues we have seen with older adults is not being able to take care of repairs to their homes due to the cost and many of them being on a fixed income,” explained Jaillin Diaz Lopez, Coalition Coordinator with Building Hope Together. “We also help install things like handrails, grab bars, walk-in showers, and ramps. Every house is different and a case-by-case basis.”

Building Hope Together is a coalition of nonprofits that aid older adults with aging in place on San Antonio’s west side, home to many older adults living at home. Often, financial constraints prevent this population from continuing to live in their homes as they age.
“We help older adults with home repairs and aging in place modifications,” said Diaz Lopez. “We also help them with legal services when it comes to their properties. For example, we help with wills, transfer on death deeds, and trying to get them a clear home title if they don’t have one yet.”
With the goal of aging in place being one that most everyone wants to attain, SALSA and its partners have plenty of work ahead. However, getting the word out on the issues and connecting people to available resources have proven to be great places to start the journey.
For more information on Aging in Place and SALSA, the team can be reached at salsa@saafdn.org or at (210) 225-2243.
Eric Moreno is a member of the San Antonio Area Foundation Marketing & Communications Storytelling Ambassador contributor network.