HHS announces fall prevention, dementia initiatives at White House conference

The Department of Health and Human Services today launched an online course to help clinicians prevent falls in older patients, and plans to release a curriculum next year to help health care workers and family members care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The fall prevention course is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) initiative, which uses established clinical guidelines and tested interventions to address risk factors. HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration and Office of Women’s Health expect to release Alzheimer’s training next year. Also next spring, the National Prevention Council, a federal initiative chaired by the Surgeon General, plans to release a Healthy Aging Action Plan to advance the National Prevention Strategy. The initiatives were announced at a White House Conference on Aging.