It is the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths among those aged 65 years and older, according to the Utah County Health Department: one-third of older adults in the United States fall each year — sometimes with disastrous consequences.

Medicare pays on average between $9,113 and $13,507 for each fall, in a measure of just how broad its hazards can be. From fractures, head injuries, soft-tissue injuries and loss of mobility to loss of independent living and even death, a fall can have calamitous implications.

Highlighting just how seriously fall injuries have grabbed the government’s attention in recent years, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) have endorsed a new program called Stepping On that will be offered in American Fork for the first time.

The Utah County Health Department will provide the seven-week workshop, which aims to build strength, balance and confidence in an effort to reduce the number of falls for a person 65 and older and help them become more aware of fall hazards. The first workshop will be next week and continue each Wednesday through April 10th at the UCHD office in American Fork, the new facility that opened in September.

The American Fork facility has been warmly welcomed, according to Lance Madigan, the Utah County Health Department public information officer. Immunizations, for instance, have gone from 100 in American Fork to averaging over 800 per month, he said.

“There are lots of people in the North County that would appreciate being able to attend the Stepping On program without having to come down to Provo,” Mr. Madigan said. “So we are simply ‘taking it to the people.’ That is the whole goal of the A.F. office — to help better serve our citizens.”

The Stepping On program is a community-based, small-group program that was developed in Australia and tested in a randomized controlled trial. The program demonstrated a 31% reduction in falls.

Carrie Bennett, a Certified Health Education Specialist with a Bachelors of Science in Community Health Education, will be teaching the class in American Fork. She has six years of experience as Injury Prevention Program Coordinator and has been a Master Trainer for the CDC since 2010. She has also conducted statewide training sessions to create more Stepping On Leaders around the state who can offer this program to their communities.

“I began conducting Stepping On seven-week workshops in January of 2011,” Ms. Bennett said. “Since then we have held nine workshops around Utah County, educating a total of 77 seniors with our falls prevention message.”

The program, which covers a range of topics, such as falls and risk, strength and balance exercises, home hazards, safe footwear and safe clothing, vision as it relates to falls, community mobility, coping after a fall and understanding medication risks, is offered in a two-hour session once a week for seven weeks, followed by a home visit or phone call to each participant after the seven sessions.

Classes are free, but reservations are required (space and materials are limited). To register, please call 801-851-7095.

If you’re interested:

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 27 to Apr. 10, 2013, 10 a.m. to noon.

WHERE: Utah County Health Department American Fork office, 599 South 500 East.

CONTACT: Carrie Bennett, UCHD Injury Prevention Coordinator, (801) 851-7035

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