Plattsburgh, NY – A fall can change a life in an instant. Falls are one of the most common and serious health risks facing older adults, often resulting in injuries that threaten a person's health, mobility and independence.

To help reduce that risk and help older adults in the community remain active and self-sufficient, the University of Vermont Health Network - Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Trauma Program hosts, On Your Feet & Independent, an adult fall prevention program on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 3 pm in the CVPH Boardroom. The free seminar is designed to help educate older adults, families, and caregivers about fall prevention.

On Your Feed & Independent will be presented by Tom Moran, MA, EMT, Trauma Education, Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator at Albany Medical Center. Moran will discuss common fall risks, practical ways to prevent falls and community resources available to support healthy, independent living.  

“We try to show that adult falls result from a combination of risk factors and how small changes in everyday life can help mitigate these risk factors. This program emphasizes the importance of finding alternatives to risky behavior, identifying fall hazards in the home, managing chronic illness and medications, staying active and exercise regularly. We are happy to partner with the great caregivers at CVPH to help get this important information out to where it will do the most good,” Moran said.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately one in four seniors report experiencing a fall each year, and about one-third of those falls require medical attention. Falls also remain the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults.

Locally, falls accounted for 83% of the trauma patients treated at CVPH in 2025, according to CVPH Trauma Program Manager Eric Gadway. He added that nearly one in five of the older adults hospitalized following a fall required surgery to repair fractures.  

“Fall-related injuries can lead to significant complications, including death, particularly among older adults with underlying health conditions,” he cautioned and explained that many falls can be prevented with greater awareness and easy modifications to the home.

"These numbers emphasize just how quickly a fall can alter someone's life," Gadway said. "Understanding the risk factors and doing what is needed to prevent falls can help older adults maintain their health, independence and quality of life."

The program is open to the public. Registration is suggested. To register, email egadway@cvph.org.

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About Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
The University of Vermont Health Network - Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is a private, not-for profit hospital in Plattsburgh, NY.  Established in 1967 with the merger of Champlain Valley and Physicians Hospitals, CVPH joined Fletcher Allen Partners in 2012, which in 2014 became The University of Vermont Health Network.  Together with its partner hospitals, the UVM Medical Group and a home health agency, CVPH provides high quality, cost effective care, close to home. Services include an award winning cardiac services program, accredited cancer center, freestanding ambulatory surgery center, comprehensive rehabilitation services and a 24 hour physician-staffed Emergency Department.  Governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, CVPH is accredited by the Joint Commission and licensed by New York State and Medicare/Medicaid Approved.  Learn more at UVMHealth.org/CVPH or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About University of Vermont Health Network
The University of Vermont Health Network is an integrated system serving the residents of Vermont and northern New York with a shared mission: working together, we improve people’s lives. The partners are:

• University of Vermont Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group
• University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
• University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital
• University of Vermont Health Network – Porter Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice

Our 4,000 health care professionals are driven to provide high-quality, cost-efficient care as close to home as possible. Strengthened by our academic connection to the University of Vermont, each of our affiliates remains committed to its local community by providing compassionate, personal care shaped by the latest medical advances and delivered by highly skilled experts.