SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Throughout the month of September, Eskaton will host free educational workshops at 19 of their community locations for older adults to help improve balance and reduce the risk of falling.

These events will coincide with the National Council on Aging’s 10th annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD) which will be observed on Sept. 22 —the first day of fall.

“We are committed to education and healthy aging for everyone,” Sheri Peifer, chief strategy officer for Eskaton says. “Falling can be devastating, but there are ways to help prevent these accidents, and we want to share those tips with our community.”

These one-hour events are free to the public and will include a viewing of the never-before-seen “Before the Fall,” a KVIE documentary about fall prevention and recovery. Attendees will view a 30-minute film, join the Q&A and receive a 28-page educational workbook filled with checklists and tips.

“Before the Fall: Prevention and Recovery,” was produced by Emmy-winning documentarian Karen Christian. From concept to interviews, she spent nearly six months following up with the older adults in the documentary. “We were able to see some members of a senior community measure their progress and work at fall prevention efforts over the span of several months,” Christian said. “Falling doesn’t have to happen to us as we age…a great many falls can be prevented.”

Falls are the leading cause of death, injury and hospital admissions among older adults. In the Sacramento region; 51,000 falls are reported each year, each costing roughly $39,000 in medical bills. One of the main factors of falling is limited physical activity. During these events, attendees will be shown simple exercises that can be done at home.

Please see below for a full schedule of events.