Fall Prevention

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Fall Prevention
11/08/07
Research Information Occupational Therapy

• Rachel R. Smith, MHSc.
• Fall Prevention Task Force Coordinator
• rachelrsmith_at_yahoo.com

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Program Overview

• Resources
• National Local Data
• Risk Factors
• Assessment Tools
• Evidence Based Prevention Strategies
• Case Study OT Techniques

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Colleagues

• Arvind Modawal, MD MPH AGSF MRCGP
• Hope J. Bard, OTR/L

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Mission

• Reduce the number of falls and fall-related
  injuries in older adults through community
  collaboration.

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Task ForceActivities Resources

• Fall prevention Task Force Members
• Awareness/Education Work Group
• Community Outreach
• Research Work Group
• Best Practices Evidence Based Strategies
• Website www.fallpreventiontaskforce.org
• Provides Fall Prevention tools, links, local
  resources tips for Senior Adults, Families,
  Care Givers, and Health Care providers.

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Objective

• Identify falls to be the leading cause of
  incidence of falls/year injury related
  hospitalizations death among adults over 65.

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National Fall Data

• One out of every three adults aged 65 years and
  older fall each year
• 20 of fall related deaths occur among the 5
  of senior adults who live in a nursing home
• Leading cause of ER visits among people over 65
• Am. Academy of Family Physicians report, falls
  are the primary cause of injury related deaths in
  people over the age of 65.

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Cost of Falls

• Direct costs for all fall related injuries total
  19.2 billion (2000)
• Direct and indirect costs expected to reach 43.8
  billion by 2020 (before inflation adjustment)
• Average cost of a fall injury in 1998 was 19,440
  (adults over 72)
• 42 of fallers reduce their activity after a fall
  and
• 40-70 live in fear of falling again

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Local Data

• 14 of the population in Hamilton Co.
  is over 65, which accounted for
• 84 of fall deaths
• 68 of fall hospitalizations
• 3rd leading cause of injury death in senior
  adults in the county
• Source Hamilton County Injury Surveillance
  System, 2005

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Falls in Nursing Homes

• Typical 100 bed nursing homes report 100-200
  falls annually
• As many as 75 of residents fall annually
• Residents generally more frail
• Greatest risk of falling within 1st
• week of arriving
• Common fall locations
• Bedroom-getting out of bed
• Bathroom
• Open living areas

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Severity of Falls
Nursing Homes

• 10-20 falls cause serious injuries
• 95 of hip fractures due to falls
• Wrist arm fractures
• Bruises, sprains, joint dislocations
• Serious head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries possible

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Senior Perspective on Falling

• Loss of independence
• Lack of support to make changes
• Denial of limitations/ functional problems
• Falls are accidents and not associated with
  risk factors
• Natural Part of Aging
• People are too busy to deal w/my concerns.

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Fear of Falling

• Common among senior adults
• Reduces independence and mobility
• Becomes a cycle
• Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists
  can help

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Common Causes of Falling

• Weakness, walking or gait problems
• Environmental hazards
• Health Conditions
• Medications
• Other Risk Factors

Non-environmental risk factors increase
significantly after the age of 70!
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Fall Prevention

• Understand falling is often the result of many
  complex interconnected risk factors
• internal
• external
• multifaceted interventions in order to be
  successful.
• tailored program to the patients' needs because
  risk factors vary among patients
• Assessment tools
• Encourage Regular Examinations Physical
  Activity
• Referrals