NCOA recognizes GaitBetter’s gaitACTIVE as evidence-based fall prevention program

GaitBetter says the National Council on Aging has added its gaitACTIVE community wellness program to its evidence-based offerings, opening the door to funding support for nonprofits, senior centers and CCRCs. The designation could help expand access to a treadmill-based fall-prevention program aimed at older adults at risk of falling.

Why it matters: - Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for Americans 65 and older. - GaitBetter’s NCOA recognition could make gaitACTIVE easier for nonprofits, senior centers and CCRCs to fund and deploy. - The designation may help communities bring a structured fall-prevention and mobility program to older adults at scale.

What happened: - GaitBetter announced that its gaitACTIVE community wellness program has been accepted into the National Council on Aging’s Evidence-Based Programming. - The company says the recognition allows eligible organizations across the U.S. to apply for federal and state funding to implement gaitACTIVE. - The program is positioned for use in clinics, wellness centers and community settings.

The details: - gaitACTIVE uses GaitBetter’s FDA-registered motor-cognitive treadmill training system. - The program combines walking on a treadmill with immersive virtual environments. - GaitBetter says the format is designed to improve balance, walking ability and cognitive-motor integration in older adults. - The program targets adults 60 and older who have a history of falls or fear of falling. - gaitACTIVE includes 15 sessions over 8 weeks. - Participants receive twice-weekly, 30-minute guided sessions. - The sessions pair treadmill walking with interactive, gamified cognitive tasks. - The program is intended to train attention, reaction time and balance under real-world conditions. - GaitBetter says the program has shown measurable success in reducing falls, restoring confidence and improving quality of life. - The NCOA page for gaitACTIVE is available here.

Between the lines: - The recognition gives GaitBetter a credential that can matter as much as the underlying technology, since funding eligibility often determines whether community programs get adopted. - The program stands out by blending physical rehab with cognitive challenges, a model that aims to address why many older adults fall, not just how they recover afterward. - NCOA’s mission is broader than fall prevention, but gaitACTIVE fits its aging-with-health agenda.

What's next: - GaitBetter is pitching gaitACTIVE to nonprofits, senior centers and CCRCs that may now be able to pursue ACL, Title III-D and state health department funding. - The company says organizations can use gaitactive.gaitbetter.com for program details, training resources and implementation guidance. - GaitBetter is also looking to expand gaitACTIVE into more communities nationwide.

The bottom line: - NCOA recognition turns gaitACTIVE from a clinical-style offering into a potentially fundable community fall-prevention program with a clearer path to adoption.