Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2026 runs September 21–25 and is a practical time to find a local balance screening. Start with your state Falls Prevention Coalition, a nearby senior center, or the federal Eldercare Locator. A balance screening is a brief check of how steadily you stand, walk, and change position. It can identify fall-risk concerns worth discussing with a health-care provider before a fall causes an injury.
Table of Contents
- Why a screening is worth arranging
- Start with the closest local referral
- Use Eldercare Locator if the coalition route stalls
- What may happen at a balance screening
- Prepare before you go
Why a screening is worth arranging
Falls affect many adults age 65 and older. The CDC reports that one in four older adults falls each year, and about 300,000 older adults are hospitalized for hip fractures annually. CDC fall-prevention information A screening is especially useful if you have fallen, feel unsteady, avoid activities because you fear falling, or notice that stairs and uneven ground have become harder.
It is not a prediction that you will fall; it is a chance to spot risks and choose next steps. Falls Prevention Awareness Week is a nationwide National Council on Aging observance focused on reducing fall risk and helping older adults live without fear of falling. NCOA's 2026 toolkit.
Start with the closest local referral
Your most direct starting point is the National Council on Aging's state Falls Prevention Coalition directory. NCOA advises contacting a state coalition lead to locate a falls-prevention program in your area. NCOA's coalition contact guidance When you call or email, ask specifically whether the organization knows of a balance screening, fall-risk assessment, physical therapy referral, or evidence-based fall-prevention class near you.
Community organizations and senior centers host screening events and prevention programs throughout September 2026. A directory listing is a referral starting point, not a guarantee of a nearby appointment. NCOA labels coalitions as active, in development, or inactive, so it helps to have a second route ready.
Use Eldercare Locator if the coalition route stalls
The federal Eldercare Locator can connect older adults and families with local aging services by city, ZIP code, county, or address. Its trained staff also provide referrals by phone at 1-800-677-1116.
Administration for Community Living's Eldercare Locator Have a short request ready: "I am looking for a local fall-risk or balance screening for an older adult." Mention whether transportation, a caregiver's involvement, or an in-home option matters. Try these local contacts in this order:.
- Your state Falls Prevention Coalition lead.
- A senior center or community organization serving older adults.
- Eldercare Locator online or at 1-800-677-1116.
- Your primary care office, especially if you have already fallen or feel newly unsteady.
What may happen at a balance screening
A clinical screening may include the CDC's 4-Stage Balance Test. The test asks a person to stand in progressively more challenging positions, measuring static balance—how steadily someone can remain standing without moving. One of those positions is a tandem stand, with one foot directly in front of the other.
According to the CDC assessment, being unable to hold that position for 10 seconds indicates increased fall risk. CDC's 4-Stage Balance Test The result is useful information, not a do-it-yourself treatment plan. A higher-risk result can lead to a provider conversation about physical-therapy gait and balance exercises or an evidence-based program such as Tai Chi.
Prepare before you go
Bring a list of recent falls or near-falls, even if no injury occurred. Include where they happened, what you were doing, and whether you felt dizzy, weak, rushed, or distracted.
You can also complete NCOA's free Falls Free CheckUp before an appointment. It asks 13 risk questions and gives a score you can share with a health-care provider, but it does not replace an in-person balance test. NCOA's Falls Free CheckUp.