Effective Fall Prevention Workshops in Rural New Mexico

Embudo Valley Library & Community Center, Dixon, New Mexico (Rio Arriba County)

The Embudo Valley Library & Community Center, located next to the Dixon Cooperative Market & Deli, is more than a library—it is the heart of the community. Residents gather there to shop, visit with neighbors, borrow books, attend classes, learn new skills, and stay connected.

Following an invitation to Villages of Santa Fe to present at the library in October 2025, Ann Church and CHRISTUS physical therapist Katie Titus began exploring a fundamental question:

How can rural communities build the local capacity needed to sustain evidence-based fall prevention and healthy aging programs utilizing local resources? The answer is not to create new institutions, but to strengthen the trusted ones that already exist.

As a coalition, Villages believes that the people who know a community best are the people who live and serve there. In rural New Mexico, two of the most trusted community assets are the public library and the local fire department. Libraries provide welcoming spaces for learning, social connection, and lifelong engagement, while local fire personnel are often the first to enter the homes of older adults following a fall or other emergency. Together, they have unique insight into local needs and strong relationships with residents.

The Rural Library Initiative has opened the door for Villages to become a trusted partner in rural New Mexico. Working through community libraries has led to introductions to local fire departments, senior centers, healthcare providers, local governments, and other community organizations. Together, these partnerships are creating the local capacity needed to expand evidence-based fall prevention and healthy aging programs in communities where access has historically been limited.

More than 25 community members attended the workshop at the Embudo Valley Library. Villages’ goals were to:

• Increase awareness of the prevalence and seriousness of falls.

• Improve understanding of why falls occur and how they can be prevented.

• Reduce fall-related injuries, deaths, and hospitalizations.

• Help older adults make everyday activities safer while maintaining their independence.

However, the most memorable moments of the workshop came from Steve Jenison, Chief of the Dixon Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Jenison addressed a barrier that statistics and education cannot overcome—the fear and embarrassment many older adults feel after a fall. He asked the audience:

If you can't get up from the floor at one o'clock in the morning, who are you going to call?

Many participants admitted the thoughts that would likely run through their minds:

• I just need to get off the floor, and everything will be okay.

• I can manage this myself.

• I don't want to bother anyone in the middle of the night.

• What if they make me go to the hospital?

Chief Jenison offered reassurance that immediately changed the tone of the room.

• This is our job. We want to help.

• Please call us. That's what we signed up to do.

• We will evaluate you and make recommendations, but the decision about going to the hospital is yours whenever your medical condition allows. 

For many participants, hearing these words directly from their local fire chief relieved much fear and uncertainty. They realized that calling 911 is not an inconvenience to first responders—it is exactly why they serve their community.

The Chief reinforced a simple but lifesaving message:

Don't let fear, embarrassment, or concern about the cost of an ambulance keep you from calling 911 after a serious fall. Delaying care can lead to far more serious injuries, complications, and loss of independence.

How did participants respond?

The response was remarkable. Conversations continued long after the workshop ended as participants shared personal experiences, asked questions, and connected with one another and the presenters. Many expressed a sense of relief after learning that they should never hesitate to call 911 following a serious fall. Others said they felt more confident about taking proactive steps to prevent falls by working with healthcare professionals, participating in evidence-based programs, and seeking help when they experienced a fall or developed a fear of falling.

The event strengthened relationships throughout the community and demonstrated that fall prevention is not solely a healthcare issue. It is a community responsibility built on trust, collaboration, and local leadership, where libraries, healthcare providers, fire departments, and residents work together to help older adults remain active, connected, independent, and safe.

Villages Expansion into Rural New Mexico

More than 60 libraries participate in the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative. Each library is a trusted community center and a potential entry point for expanding fall prevention across rural and frontier New Mexico. Through these libraries, Villages can introduce evidence-based education, connect residents with local fire departments and healthcare resources, and help communities build the partnerships and capacity needed to prevent falls and support healthy aging.