The Allen Fire Department has broadened its Steady Together Project to include four new senior living facilities, building on the success of an initial phase designed to reduce fall-related injuries among older residents. Launched in January, the initiative aims to lower these incidents by 20 percent over the next three years while supporting independent living for seniors.
Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd explained that data analysis highlighted falls as a critical hazard the department could actively address. With Allen’s EMS responding to 688 fall calls in 2023, 727 in 2024, and 758 in 2025, officials recognized an urgent need for preventive measures as the local population ages.
During the first phase, which ran from January through April, firefighters collaborated with four skilled nursing facilities to conduct 61 home safety visits. The team provided 16 personalized fall prevention lessons and installed 280 free safety improvements. These installations included grab bars, non-slip bath mats, grabber tools, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and night lights.
The department also mailed personalized resource letters to seniors who had recently fallen to connect them with further assistance.
Since the expansion began in July, crews have completed 36 additional home safety visits and delivered four new educational sessions across the four new communities. Firefighters continue to identify common hazards such as loose rugs, electrical cords, slippery bathroom floors, and improperly fitted mobility devices during these assessments.
The program also teaches balance exercises, proper walker and cane usage, and medication safety in partnership with Baylor pharmacists.
