Scaling Trusted Evidence-Based Falls Prevention (STEP in Colorado)
Welcome to STEP in Colorado — an initiative from the University of Colorado Anschutz focused on preventing falls for older adults in our Colorado communities.
Backed by a four‑year federal grant by the Administration for Community Living (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services), the STEP team is expanding access to trusted, evidence‑based fall‑prevention programs for older Coloradans, especially in rural and underserved regions.
Background
About half of adults over the age of 85 have had a fall in the last year, and falls remain the most common injury for older adults, with life-changing consequences for many.
Led by emergency medicine researchers Elizabeth Goldberg, MD, and Bethany Kwan, PhD, alongside geriatric medicine expert Cari Levy, MD, STEP is focused on reducing one of the most common and life‑altering causes of emergency visits among older adults: falls. Their shared mission is simple but transformative — prevent injuries before they happen, support healthy aging, and strengthen the networks that keep people thriving at home.