FALL PREVENTION DAY September 22, 2026

Falls Prevention Awareness Week

This week exists because of one sobering fact:

The CDC lists falls as the leading cause of injury-related death among adults 65 and older.

And many falls happen in the places we move through every day—hallways, stairs, bedrooms, and that 2 a.m. walk to the bathroom.

The dark doesn’t care how well you know your floor plan.

A 2021 study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that with each 10-fold increase in home lighting, falls decreased by 35%.

That’s worth paying attention to.

Sometimes fall prevention isn’t about making a major change. Sometimes it starts with something as simple as more light.

💡 Consider motion-detection or backup lights.

They can plug into an ordinary outlet and provide a soft light automatically at night, so there’s no switch to find and nothing to remember.

And when the power goes out, many backup lights automatically turn on at full brightness. Some can even be removed from the outlet and used as a handheld flashlight.

This week, think about the person you’d put one in the wall for.

Mom. Dad. Grandma. Grandpa. The aunt who insists she’s fine.

One for the hallway.One along the path to the bathroom.One near the stairs.

A little more light can mean a little more confidence—and potentially one less opportunity for a fall.

This Falls Prevention Awareness Week, look around your home. Where could you add a little more light?