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South Dakota Department of Health
South Dakota Department of Health
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Programs

Fall Prevention for Professionals

Awareness & Promotional Materials

The National Council of Aging has created a toolkit that can be used to promote Fall Prevention Awareness Week in September. Items included in this toolkit include social media materials, press releases, printable materials, and more. Visit the National Council on Aging website to download the toolkit. 

Download the Awareness Week Toolkit

Download the South Dakota Toolkit

Most falls are preventable

Start with these six easy steps to help reduce your risk:

  1. Find a balance or exercise program
  2. Talk to your doctor
  3. Review medications
  4. Get your vision and hearing checked yearly
  5. Keep your home safe
  6. Talk to your family 

View the Video

La mayoría de las caídas se pueden prevenir.

Comience con estos seis sencillos pasos para ayudar a reducir su riesgo: 

  1. Encuentra un equilibrio o un programa de ejercicios
  2. Hable con su médico
  3. Revisar medicamentos
  4. Hágase revisar la vista y la audición anualmente
  5. Mantén tu casa Segura
  6. Habla con tu familia

Ver el Video

Download Videos for Social Media

Flyers & Posters

  • Flyers that can be shared at church or distributed through meal delivery programs.

  • Signage that medical providers can post in their clinic to encourage anyone who has fallen to report their fall to their doctor.

Presentations

Governor's Proclamations

2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019

Fall Prevention Classes Offered in South Dakota

There are several fall prevention programs and classes offered across the state.

The following fall prevention programs are evidence-based and have been shown to help older adults:
  • decrease falling,
  • decrease the fear of falling,
  • increase physical activity
  • increase strength, flexibility, and balance.

Some classes have also helped increase participants' social well-being and thinking ability.

Target Audience: 

  • Those at intermediate to moderate risk of falling, and those with a fear of falling

Goals:

  • Acknowledge the risk of falling while developing practical coping strategies to reduce the fear of falling
  • Learn and participate in fall prevention exercises

Structure:

  • In-person or Virtual Options
  • Two Coaches for 8-12 participants
  • Meets for eight, 2 hours sessions
    • Either 1 session/week for 8 weeks or 2 sessions/week for 4 weeks

Where can I find this class?

Sioux Falls
Location: a variety of locations offer AMOB
Contact number: 605-333-4440
Website

Madison
Location: Interlakes Senior Citizen Center
Address: 822 SW 10th St. Madison, SD 57042
Contact number: 605-256-8915
Website

Winner
Location: Winner Regional Health
Address: 745 E. 8th St. Winner, SD 57580
Contact number: 605-842-7304
Website 

Target Audience:

Sedentary older adults at all ability levels, in a variety of settings, including certified nursing facilities, assisted living, independent living, and community senior centers

Goals:

  • Improve and/or maintain mobility and independence
  • Learn and use health information focused on falls reduction and other health-related behaviors
  • Engage older adults in social settings

Structure:

  • Can be delivered by printed version or mobile app
    • This provides a versatile option for organizations with multiple facilities
  • 10-week program
    • Play twice a week on non-consecutive days, 45-60 minute sessions

Where can I find this Class?

If interested in offering in your area, contact karla.cazer@sanfordhealth.org. Sanford Stand Strong Fall Prevention has been awarded Title III Preventive Health Funds from SD DHS to support licensing, training, and materials for this program in rural South Dakota.

Target Audience:

  • Appropriate for people that are low fall risk
  • Community-dwelling adults (65+) and people with/without a history of falling

Goals:

  • Improving flexibility, strength, and balance in Instructors

Structure:

  • Led by fitness, exercise science, and healthcare professionals who complete SAIL instructor training
  • 55 minutes, 2-3 times weekly, ongoing
    • Warm-up: 3-5 min
    • Aerobics: 18-20 min
    • Balance exercises: 10 min
    • Strength exercises: 15-18 min
    • Stretching & fall prevention education: 8-10 min

Where can I find this class?

Sioux Falls

  • Midco Aquatic Center
    1601 S. Western Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57105
    605-376-8222
    Website

  • Sanford Wellness Center on Oxbow
    4201 S. Oxbow Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57106
    605-328-1600
    Website

  • Westside Recreation Center
    8701 West 32nd St., Sioux Falls, SD 57106
    605-376-8222
    Website

  • Active Generation Main
    2300 W. 46th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57106
    605-336-6722

  • Active Generation East
    5500 E. Active Generations Way, Sioux Falls SD 57110
    605-275-7690

  • Various Church Locations, Contact specific churches for details:
    • Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
      5500 E. 57th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57108
      605-371-3737 

    • Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
      909 W. 33rd St., Sioux Falls, SD 57105
      605-336-2942

    • Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
      2200 S. Western Ave., Sioux Falls, SD
      605-338-6952

Target Audience:

  • Appropriate for beginners

Goals:

  • Improve health through slow, gentle, intentional movements
  • Benefits include: pain relief, improved balance, reduced fall risk, improved muscle strength and flexibility
  • Integrates both mind and body, mood-boosting exercise

Structure:

  • 16 sessions (once or twice a week)

Where can I find this class?

Target Audience:

  • Open to any adult 18+

Goals:

  • Improve mobility and reduce pain, especially for those who are sedentary, experience joint pain or arthritis 

Structure:

  • 6-week workshop, 18 sessions
  • Each 1-hour session includes health education, group discussion, stretching, and walking

Where can I find this Class?

Learn more about Walk with Ease

Target Audience:

  • Older adults

Goals:

  • Help older adults at all levels of fitness become more active, energized, and empowered

Structure:

  • Continuous model, tracking progress with fitness checks
  • Each 1 hour session includes: a warm-up, aerobic workout, cool-down, strength training workout, stretching workout, balance exercises, and social opportunity

Where can I find this class?

  • Coming Soon!

Additional Information & Resources

Sanford Health Fall Prevention

Sanford Health offers a variety of evidence-based fall prevention programs that providers can refer at-risk patients to. These classes are free. Classes are available for varying levels of physical ability, locations may vary. Call Sanford Health at 605-333-4440 to learn more.

Programs offered by Sanford Health

SDSU Extension Fall Prevention

South Dakota State University Extension offers a variety of evidence-based programs for fall prevention and chronic disease self-management that providers can refer at-risk patients to. These classes are free. To learn about workshops in your community, please call 1-888-484-3800.

Programs offered by SDSU Extension

All evidence-based programs are offered by community members. If you are interested in leading workshops, please contact either Sanford Health or SDSU Extension.

Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI)

Healthcare providers can use CDC’s STEADI initiative to help reduce fall risk among older patients. Discover resources to help you integrate fall prevention into routine clinical practice.

View STEADI Resources

AGS Beers Criteria®

The AGS Beers Criteria® includes lists of certain medications worth discussing with health professionals because they may not be the safest or most appropriate options for older adults. 

Visit the Geriatrics Healthcare Professionals Website

Deprescribing

Deprescribing is a website to share and exchange information about approaches to reduce the number of medications older adults are prescribed.

Visit the Deprescribing Website

Screening

Screening older adults for their fall risk is the first step you can take to prevent a fall.

View the Screening Checklist

Falls are not a natural part of aging. Even if you’re healthy or have talked with your healthcare provider, it’s important to check your risk. There are many steps you can take to prevent a fall. Answer 13 simple questions to get a fall risk score and resources to prevent falls.

NCOA Falls Free Check-up

Stand Strong: Fall Prevention Programs

  • Matter of Balance and Bingocize classes are led by trained lay leaders. What does this mean? You do not have to be a healthcare provider to receive the Coach's training.

    • What do you need to be a coach?

      • Good communication and interpersonal skills

      • Enthusiasm, dependability, and a willingness to lead small groups of older adults (8-12 people)

      • Ability to lead low to moderate-level exercise

  • SAIL Leader training is available to fitness, exercise science, or healthcare professionals

  • Call 605-339-7295 to learn more and find out about upcoming classes.

  • Cost – FREE!

Fit & Strong! workshops are led by instructors trained by SDSU Extension Fit & Strong! Master Trainers. The training includes a 5-hour self-paced online course and a 4-hour Zoom training. Contact Whitney Reetz to learn more about becoming an instructor by calling 605-882-5140 or emailing her at whitney.reetz@sdstate.edu. 

Removing Stumbling Blocks to Prevent Falls

A simple stumble or slip can result in a serious injury or even death. Individuals 65 and older are at a higher risk for injury from a fall, which most often happens at home or at a residential care facility. Encouraging participation in evidence-based programs can help prevent a fall by increasing balance and strength, while also improving quality of life. 

View the Webinar

Back to Basics: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Fall Reduction

One in four Americans 65 and older report a fall each year. Hospital systems are taking steps to address falls in the communities they serve. On September 22nd, 2023, at noon CT, Laura Holland, CNA, and Christina Zweber, MSN, RN described the evolution of a multidisciplinary Mobility Committee at Monument and statewide resources available for professionals interested in fall prevention among older adults.

View the Webinar

Content last updated: July 21, 2025. For questions, contact: