Concordia University Ann Arbor, in partnership with the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, will host the No Falls Festival this month.
Each year, 4.5 million adults in the United States experience a fall. The human cost is immense: loss of independence, serious injuries and increased isolation. The financial toll is staggering as well, with Medicare spending between $15 billion and $30 billion annually on fall-related injuries. A recent study found that fall injuries are rising by 1.5% per year, resulting in 106,000 additional injuries and $1 billion in new costs in just three years.
For people with Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders, the risk is even higher. Muscle rigidity, tremors and balance changes all increase vulnerability, while caregivers often struggle with how to provide safe support.
That’s why CUAA and MPF are partnering to host the No Falls Festival on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CUAA’s North Building.
What the No Falls Festival Offers
The free festival is designed for people with Parkinson’s or related disorders, as well as their care partners. Attendees will benefit from:
- Free balance and mobility assessments conducted by trained professionals
- Educational sessions on reducing fall risks in daily life
- Hands-on demonstrations of safe mobility support techniques for caregivers
- Personalized fall-prevention plans with take-home resources
By combining education, assessments and practical tools, the festival empowers participants to reduce their fall risk, protect their independence and improve their quality of life.
Michigan Parkinson Foundation: Exercise, Educate, Empower
The partnership with MPF makes this event especially meaningful. Since 1983, the foundation has been a lifeline for individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s disease. With its mission to exercise, educate and empower, MPF provides a wide range of services across Michigan, including:
- Exercise programs–Free, evidence-based movement classes six days a week to improve balance and strength
- Support groups–More than 70 groups statewide offering encouragement and shared strategies for living well
- Assistive equipment loans–Wheelchairs, rollators, scooters and specialized walkers for safe mobility
- Educational resources–From newly diagnosed seminars to statewide “Hope in Every Step” forums, equipping individuals and caregivers with practical knowledge
- Care partner support–Respite grants and counseling to reduce stress and strengthen care at home
These programs directly align with the festival’s goals—turning prevention into practice and offering hope in the face of a growing national health challenge.
A Community Response to a National Issue
Falls may be a national problem, but prevention begins locally. Events like the No Falls Festival show the impact when universities, healthcare professionals and nonprofits come together: Individuals gain confidence, caregivers gain skills and communities grow stronger.
By hosting this event, CUAA is living out its mission to serve not only students but also the wider Ann Arbor community. And through its partnership with MPF, the festival connects participants to long-term resources that extend well beyond a single day.
Event Details:
- Date/time: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Location: CUAA North Building
- Cost: Free (registration required)
- Contact: Melissa Kieffer, 734-995-7466, melissa.kieffer@cuaa.edu
Together, we can reduce falls, protect independence and empower lives.
Want in?
CUAA will continue to offer degrees in 2025-26 and beyond. Pursue a degree in healthcare at our North Building with its newly remodeled features and state-of-the-art simulation equipment, or earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education through one of our well-established online programs. The CUAA campus continues to offer a route to a Lutheran Teacher Diploma to help equip Lutheran K-12 schools nationwide with qualified workers. In the near future, Concordia will look to reintroduce additional church work training opportunities in Ann Arbor by building a new vision and model for the undergraduate degree programs here.
Click here to view a full list of the programs Concordia will retain in Ann Arbor. Click below to schedule a visit with an Admissions team member.