Fall Prevention Awareness Week 2026 in King County: Let’s Keep Moving, Together

As the seasons begin to shift, Fall Prevention Awareness Week reminds us of something simple but powerful: Staying active helps us stay upright, independent, and connected. And here in King County, we’re working to make it easier for older adults to move with confidence.

A recent study in the American Journal of Health Promotion highlights the scale of the issue: Physical inactivity now costs the U.S. nearly $192 billion in healthcare expenses each year, or 12.6% of all national healthcare spending. The number is significant, but the takeaway is encouraging: Movement matters, and even small steps can help create meaningful change.

Emerging focus: TBI prevention and safe e-bike/e-scooter use

As fall prevention work continues to evolve, partners across Washington are also beginning to focus more intentionally on traumatic brain injury (TBI) prevention, including injuries that can happen when people fall or crash due to e-bikes, e-scooters, and other forms of micro-mobility.

This emerging effort will be led by the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, with community partners helping to share information and support practical safety messages as the work develops.

For now, the message is simple: Choose safe routes, follow local rules, wear a properly fitted helmet, watch for uneven surfaces, and slow down in busy areas while being watchful for others. These small steps can help reduce the risk of falls, crashes, and head injuries while allowing people of all ages to stay mobile, connected, and active in their communities.

Local resources that make a difference

The King County Fall Prevention Coalition (KCFPC) hosted by Sound Generations is more than just a resource hub. It’s a vibrant network of community members, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and government agencies all working together to reduce fall risk and promote healthy aging. This coalition thrives on collaboration, bringing together diverse voices and expertise to share best practices, coordinate programs, and amplify impact.

Whether it’s your local senior center offering balance classes or our public health department launching awareness campaigns, KCFPC helps connect the dots. The synergy created by this coalition means that older adults across King County have better access to fall prevention tools, education, and support because we’re stronger when we work together.

Across our communities, senior centers and local organizations will be hosting fall prevention workshops, classes and health fairs throughout the month. Here are just a few:

• Greenwood: Kick off the month on Sept. 1, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. with tai chi! Build strength, balance, and agility with the centuries-old practices of tai chi and qigong
• Bothell: Sept. 3 to Oct. 22, A Matter of Balance Workshop
• Central Area Senior Center: Sept. 4 to Oct. 23, A Matter of Balance Workshop
• Kirkland: Monday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Senior Resource Fair
• Carnation: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Fall Prevention Day with free EnhanceFitness, free lunch (must pre-register), presentations and a resource fair
• Seattle/Magnuson Park: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Resource Fair for Older Adults hosted by NEST (North East Seattle Together). Visit the Sound Generations table for balance assessments and resource information, and to learn more about the KCFPC!

Call to action: Take the Falls Free CheckUp

The Fall Prevention Program Locator now includes a Falls Free Checkup pop-up for visitors. The Falls Free Checkup is a quick, 13-question tool that helps you assess your personal risk and offers tips to stay safe. After completing the checkup, visitors are taken back to the locator to find evidence-based fall prevention classes in their neighborhood. This makes it easier to assess personal fall risk and then take the next step toward staying active, strong, and steady.

Let’s keep moving together!

Paige Denison works to help older adults stay strong, safe, and independent. She leads health and wellness programs at Sound Generations, a local nonprofit serving King County. Paige helps bring classes like EnhanceFitness to neighborhoods across the region—fun, proven ways to build strength and balance and prevent falls. Her work in Seattle has helped shape programs used across the country, and she serves on national teams that guide fall prevention and healthy aging efforts. Paige works with doctors, researchers, and community leaders to make sure these programs fit the needs of diverse communities, including people with disabilities and different cultural backgrounds. With over 20 years of experience, she’s proud to support both local and national efforts that make aging safer and more active for everyone.