MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – For many older adults, staying active and independent is an important part of enjoying life. But something as seemingly simple as a fall can change that independence in an instant.
That is why local health and community organizations are working together to help Marion County residents better understand fall risks—and, more importantly, what they can do to prevent them.
The Florida Department of Health-Marion County, through the Marion County Fall Prevention Coalition, is bringing that message to the community with Stay Safe & STEADI Marion, an event designed to connect older adults, caregivers and healthcare professionals with practical tools for reducing the risk of falls.
Turning fall prevention into a community effort
Fall prevention is not necessarily about making major changes to the way people live. Often, it is about identifying small risks before they become big problems.
The Marion County Fall Prevention Coalition brings together area agencies, service providers and community partners with a shared goal: helping older adults remain safe, active and independent in their homes and communities.
The coalition volunteers their time and expertise to provide free screenings, hands-on assessments, strength and balance workshops, and access to trusted local resources.
Stay Safe & STEADI Marion provides an opportunity to bring many of those resources together in one place while helping residents learn more about the factors that can contribute to falls.
What STEADI means for older adults
At the heart of the event is the CDC’s STEADI initiative—short for Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries.
The program takes a comprehensive approach to fall prevention. Rather than focusing on just one potential cause, STEADI helps identify and address physical, medical and environmental factors that can increase someone’s risk of falling.
That can include everything from balance and strength to medications, vision and the safety of the home environment.
The goal isn’t simply to prevent a fall. It is to help older adults maintain the confidence and independence that come with being able to safely navigate everyday life.
Sometimes, safety starts at home
For seniors and their families, the home can be an important place to begin looking for potential hazards.
Loose rugs, cluttered walkways, inadequate lighting, stairs and other everyday features can become more significant risks as mobility or balance changes. Recognizing those hazards—and knowing how to address them—can make a meaningful difference.
That is where the combination of STEADI fall-prevention strategies and hands-on home-safety education can be particularly useful.
For caregivers, the event can also provide another perspective on how to support an aging parent, spouse or loved one without taking away the independence that is so important to them.
Resources for the people who serve older adults
Stay Safe & STEADI Marion isn’t just for seniors.
Caregivers and healthcare professionals can also benefit from learning more about fall prevention and the resources available locally. By bringing community partners together, the Marion County Fall Prevention Coalition serves as a repository for information that can help connect older adults with services and organizations they may not otherwise know are available.
That collaborative approach is an important part of the coalition’s mission. Fall prevention isn’t something that has to happen in isolation. Families, healthcare providers, community organizations and older adults themselves can all play a role.
A proactive approach to staying independent
As Marion County’s population of older adults continues to grow, conversations about healthy aging and fall prevention become increasingly important.
A fall may sometimes seem like an unavoidable part of getting older, but the STEADI approach emphasizes that many risk factors can be identified and addressed.
Stay Safe & STEADI Marion, taking place Nov. 6, 2026, at Ocala’s Appleton Museum of Art (4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd.) and presented by gold sponsors ARC Hospice & Palliative Care and Vitas Healthcare, offers local residents an opportunity to take a proactive approach—learning what puts them or their loved ones at risk and discovering practical steps that can help them stay safer at home and remain active in the community.
For older adults, caregivers and the professionals who serve them, it is ultimately about more than preventing falls. It is about helping Marion County residents continue living their lives with greater confidence, safety and independence.
For more information about Stay Safe & STEADI Marion and local fall-prevention resources, visit STEADI Marion online, email info@steadimarion.org or call 352-401-1043.