Howland Named to Federal Panel on Falls Prevention
Jonathan Howland, a professor of community health sciences at BUSPH and director of public health and injury prevention research in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston Medical Center, has been appointed to the CDC’s expert panel on Falls Prevention.jo
The panel’s mission is to work with the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies on the development of strategies to promote and disseminate evidence-based programs for preventing falls among older adults. Howland also is a member of a study group convened by the National Council on Aging to develop an evaluation strategy for 37 state coalitions on fall prevention.
Fall prevention has been a longtime area of interest for Howland, whose role at BMC entails guiding research efforts on harm and injury reduction, alcohol and substance abuse interventions and other preventative measures.
According to the CDC, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls each year. Falls can lead to moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can even increase the risk of early death. In 2007, over 18,000 older adults died from fall injuries.
Howland and other researchers have been studying ways to prevent falls, including regular exercise programs for older adults that focus on increasing leg strength and balance. Tai Chi and programs designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase a sense of control in relation to fall risk also have been found to be effective.
Submitted by Lisa Chedekel