Hidden Gem: CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging – Falls Prevention Coalition

Jodi Waterhouse is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Programs for the CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging. Jodi has answered some questions below to help librarians around Colorado learn about the Falls Prevention Coalition. The Falls Prevention Coalition is seeking community members to join the coalition to broaden and strengthen the work across the state in all communities. Read more to learn how to get involved!

Tell us who you are and what you do at your organization. 

The CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging was awarded a National Council on Aging grant to help launch the first Colorado Falls Prevention Coalition in Spring 2025.  The grant provides funding for 18-months to stand up a Falls Prevention Coalition here in Colorado.  We have stakeholders from all over Colorado and always looking to recruit more who can help us stand up such an important Coalition.  The goal is for the Coalition to be a free-standing Coalition, led by members throughout Colorado by the end of 2026. Fall Prevention Month is in September, but we want to build awareness year round.

Every year, about 1-in-4 Americans aged 65 and older report falling. Of those, around 9 million suffer injuries serious enough to need medical care or limit their daily activities. The Colorado Falls Prevention Coalition aims to increase awareness of the prevalence of falls, gather data, and integrate prevention initiatives into existing health and aging programs.

Part of a national effort through the National Council on Aging, the coalition is focused on keeping older Coloradans safe, active, and independent. With falls costing billions each year in medical care, this work is not just important, it’s essential.

How can your organization partner with a library to offer resources or programming to the local community of library visitors and users?

The library is such an important partner as they are community hubs for information, classes and resources to support community members in reducing falls. As materials become available through the coalition, libraries can distribute resources and partner with health organizations in their area to offer programming. There are already printable resources on our website for libraries to add to their pamphlet displays.

What needs or challenges can your organization help libraries address for their communities? 

We are hopeful that through the Colorado Falls Prevention Coalition work that resources and new educational opportunities will be delivered through Colorado libraries and continually provide new and improved resources so libraries can help reduce the number of falls in their communities.

What regions – cities, counties, areas – of Colorado does your organization reach?

We have Falls Prevention Coalition members from all over the state. If you are interested in getting involved to make sure these resources reach your community, please reach out!

Do the services or resources from your organization cost any money to the participant?

The resources provided through the Coalition have no fee, however, classes offered in the community may have fees to participate.

Do libraries have to provide any funds or apply to any grants to work with your organization?

No, the funds to help stand up the Coalition are currently grant funded.

Do libraries have to provide any staff, volunteers, or training in order to run your programs or provide resources or services with your organization?

We ask that library staff become Ambassadors of information to direct community members to the appropriate falls prevention resources, services and education.

Let’s say one of our librarians, directors, or staff contact you and says, “We want to bring your organization to our community!” What will the next step look like?

We hope more resources, services and education to support falls prevention work continues to grow in all communities throughout Colorado.  The Coalition will become a hub of information for libraries to access and share with their community members. Additionally, we are partnering with the Colorado State Library to ensure that information is disseminated out about how libraries can get involved.

How can people reach you? 

If anyone is interested in being more involved in the Colorado Falls Prevention Coalition please contact [email protected] for more information.