ORLANDO, Fla. – With fall-related injuries being the leading cause of death for Americans over 65, one local senior care center is taking an innovative approach to prevention through education and engagement.

InnovAge Orlando, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) center, recently hosted “Fallapalooza,” a week-long initiative combining fun activities with crucial fall prevention education for seniors.

“We are doing various activities throughout the week to educate you on fall prevention,” announced staff members during one of the program’s interactive sessions, which featured food crafts and friendly competitions designed to keep seniors active and engaged.

The center, which opened in April 2024 through a partnership with Orlando Health, focuses on helping seniors maintain their independence. John Foscolos, Nursing Director at InnovAge Orlando, emphasizes the importance of mobility in achieving this goal.

“We try to keep them independent. We try to keep them mobile,” Foscolos said. “Movement is life. So that’s what we go by.”

The program’s success is evident in participants like Michael Varney, who arrived at InnovAge last year in a wheelchair. Through the center’s physical therapies and social activities, Varney has made remarkable progress.

“For five months now, I have not used my wheelchair. I haven’t touched it. I refuse to. No cane, no walker,” Varney said. “I credit this to InnovAge and the help and guidance I’ve gotten from them.”

Varney understands the serious risks that mobility challenges pose to seniors. “

Simple, small things that can prevent them breaking their hip or falling on the floor, or being stuck on the floor with no help, it could be a major setback that could threaten their wellbeing,” he explained.

Foscolos points out that fall prevention extends beyond physical activity. Family members and caregivers play a crucial role in identifying potential risks.

“A lot of falls are due to overmedication, and a lot of seniors are overmedicated,” Foscolos noted.

He advises families to stay alert for warning signs: “If they feel lightheaded sitting up from the couch and they tell you ‘ugh I feel dizzy’ that’s a sign that something’s going on and it’s a potential fall.”

While Fallapalooza week has concluded, the center’s commitment to fall prevention continues. Shaun Blackshear, Center Director at InnovAge Orlando, emphasized that fall prevention remains a constant priority.

“It’s really an all-year intervention that we’re looking to do to be able to prevent falls within our senior population,” Blackshear said.

InnovAge’s PACE center in Orlando serves seniors in Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, offering comprehensive healthcare and social services designed to help older adults avoid nursing facilities while maintaining their independence in their own homes.