Fall prevention programmes for older adults in the community: impact on rate of falls

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 540-543
Author(s):  
Joanna Harrison ◽  
Kar Yen Phoong ◽  
James Hill
2021 ◽  
pp. 105477382098668
Author(s):  
Kathleen Schell ◽  
Denise Lyons ◽  
Barry Bodt

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) among a convenience sample of older adults on two Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) units of the ChristianaCare™ in Delaware. Another aim was to determine if subjects with documented OH experienced falls. Retrospective de-identified data was obtained from electronic medical records for the years 2015 to 2018. Among all patients who had valid first orthostatic vital sign (OVS) readings ( n = 7,745), 39.2% had orthostatic hypotension on the first reading. Among the patients, 42.8% were found to be hypotensive during OVS. Thirty-one (0.9%) of those with OH fell at some point during their stay. The odds ratio for falls in the presence of OH was 1.34 with a 95% confidence interval (0.82, 2.21), but a chi-square test failed to find significance ( p = .2494). The results could not determine if OVS should be mandatory in fall prevention protocols.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3415
Author(s):  
Hursuong Vongsachang ◽  
Aleksandra Mihailovic ◽  
Jian-Yu E ◽  
David S. Friedman ◽  
Sheila K. West ◽  
...  

Understanding periods of the year associated with higher risk for falling and less physical activity may guide fall prevention and activity promotion for older adults. We examined the relationship between weather and seasons on falls and physical activity in a three-year cohort of older adults with glaucoma. Participants recorded falls information via monthly calendars and participated in four one-week accelerometer trials (baseline and per study year). Across 240 participants, there were 406 falls recorded over 7569 person-months, of which 163 were injurious (40%). In separate multivariable regression models incorporating generalized estimating equations, temperature, precipitation, and seasons were not significantly associated with the odds of falling, average daily steps, or average daily active minutes. However, every 10 °C increase in average daily temperature was associated with 24% higher odds of a fall being injurious, as opposed to non-injurious (p = 0.04). The odds of an injurious fall occurring outdoors, as opposed to indoors, were greater with higher average temperatures (OR per 10 °C = 1.46, p = 0.03) and with the summer season (OR = 2.69 vs. winter, p = 0.03). Falls and physical activity should be understood as year-round issues for older adults, although the likelihood of injury and the location of fall-related injuries may change with warmer season and temperatures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 139-139
Author(s):  
Barbara King

Abstract In-hospital falls are a significant clinical, legal and regulatory problem. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid no longer reimburse hospitals for falls that result in injury, adding increase pressure on acute care settings to prevent falls. Additionally, evidence-based practice recommendations for fall prevention in hospitals do not exist, thus leaving administrators to create their own programs. One common strategy used by hospital providers to prevent falls is to restrict patient mobility. Little information on how older adult patients experience fall prevention during a hospital stay has been published. The purpose of this study was to understand perceptions of care among older adults identified as fall risk during a hospital stay. This qualitative study utilized inductive content analysis. Older adults (N=20) from a large academic medical center in the Midwest were recruited to participate in one-to one in-depth interviews. Open coding, categorization and abstraction was used to analyze the data. Three main categories were identified that summarized the older adult patient perception of hospitalization: Act of Caring, something they received from staff, provide to staff or provided to self; Being Restricted in movement resulting in either accepting or rejecting the restriction and Being Freed at discharge, often being told “just be careful”. Older adult identified as fall risk described being restricted in movement during a hospital stay. Many passively accepted this restriction even though they felt a lack of movement would be harmful to them. Additional research on the patient experience with fall prevention is needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 238-238
Author(s):  
Hiroko Kiyoshi-Teo ◽  
Claire McKinley-Yoder ◽  
Erin Lemon ◽  
Olivia Ochoa

Abstract Older adults in residential care settings are four times more likely than those not living in care facilities to experience falls. Yet, fall prevention efforts at long-term care settings are under-resourced, under-regulated, and under-studied. To address this gap, we developed and studied the impact of a specialty clinical, Fall Prevention Care Management (FPCM), for nursing students to decrease older adults’ fall risks. We enrolled assisted living residents that facility liaison identified as being high fall risk (fall rates or fall risk were not tracked at the study sites) and MOCA ≥15, in 2 assisted living facilities in Northwest USA. Participants received weekly, 1-hour, individual, semi-structured, Motivational Interviewing-based care management visits by same students over 6 visits. Changes in fall risks were measured by the CDC STEADI assessment (unsteadiness & worry), Falls Self-Efficacy Scale International-Short (FESI-S), and Falls Behavioral Scale (FAB). Twenty-five residents completed the study. Students addressed the following (multiple responses possible): emotional needs (n=23), improved motivation to prevent falls (n=21), and individualized education/coaching (i.e., exercise, mobility aids) (n=10-17). FESI-S score improved from 16.0 to 14.4 (p=.001; decreased fear. FAB score improved from 2.94 to 3.10 (p=.05; more frequent fall prevention behaviors). Frequency of those who felt steady while standing or walking increased (24% to 40%, p=.07) and those who did not worry about falling increased (20% to 36%, p=.08). FPCM clinical offered valuable opportunity to address unmet care needs of older adults to reduce fall risks.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 301-301
Author(s):  
Qiwei Li ◽  
Becky Knight

Abstract Falls have been a crucial threat for older adults to stay independent. Once they have fallen, older adults are more likely to receive injuries and become people with disabilities. Conventionally, the measurement of fall efficacy focused on the capacity of performing certain activities such as walking or bathing without a fall. However, given the fact that one out of five older adults fall every year, self-efficacy in self-protection when falls do happen calls for a better understanding of confidence in self-management of a fall. Among predictors for fall prevention outcomes, “fear of falls” has received attention. However, “fear of falls” was largely missing in studies exploring self-management of falls in scenarios where falls do happen. This study explores the predictors for CSMoF including “fear of falls”. A series of simultaneous and hierarchical regression analyses with related interaction analyses and a path model were applied to determine the contribution of each predictor variable and the mediating role of “fear of falls”. The findings of the study reported that demographic characteristics, chronic conditions, and perceptions of falls were associated with CSMoF. The path analysis confirmed the mediating role of “fear of falls” as the indirect effects were occupying substantial percentages in the total identified effects. “Fear of falls” should continue to be a core of fall prevention programs and is particularly important for programs that aim to teach older adults what to do when they fall, whom to call for help, and how to avoid injuries upon falling.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shueh-Fen Chen ◽  
Su-Fei Huang ◽  
Li-Ting Lu ◽  
Mei-Chuen Wang ◽  
Jung-Yu Liao ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon S. Laing ◽  
Ilene F. Silver ◽  
Sally York ◽  
Elizabeth A. Phelan

We assessed knowledge, attitude, and provision of recommended fall prevention (FP) practices by employees of senior-serving organization and participation in FP practices by at-risk elders. The Washington State Department of Health administered structured telephone surveys to 50 employees and 101 elders in Washington State. Only 38% of employees felt “very knowledgeable” about FP, and a majority of their organizations did not regularly offer FP services. Almost half (48%) of seniors sustained a fall within the past 12 months; however, one-third perceived falling to be among their least important health concerns, and most had minimal working knowledge of proven FP practices. Seniors who perceived avoiding falls as important to their well-being were more likely to participate in practices about which they had the least knowledge (risk assessment, medication management). Increased awareness and availability of FP services might help engage older adults in FP practices and reduce the adverse effects of falls.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document