Falls Prevention

1. Environmental (Extrinsic) Evaluation of Risk Factors
   
   • Modifiable: Clutter in walkways, no stair railings or grab bars, loose rugs, dim lighting, wet floor, floor glare, monochromatic color schemes, loose cords or wires, low toilet seat, wheels on furniture, broken equipment, beds in high position.
     
   • Non Modifiable: Cold temperatures, uneven pavement, poor public space designs

   • Fall Prevention Home Safety Checklistwww.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/SeniorSafe
     
   • Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm
   
   
2. Individual (Intrinsic) Risk Factors Identification
   
   • Modifiable: Muscle weakness, gait and balance problem, vision problems, psychoactive medications, prior falls, assistive device use, incontinence, dizziness/vertigo, postural hypotension.
     
   • Non Modifiable: Older age, female, chronic diseases, mentally impaired, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, CVA or TIA, Syncope and "drop attacks"
   
   
3. Assessment
   
   • Upon contact: Have you fallen in the past year? How many times have you fallen in the past year: Are you afraid of falling?
     
   • Assess for Pain
     
   • Assess for Mental Status
     
   • Assess for Strength
     
   • Assess for Balance
     www.therapyceu.com/RCEU
     Berg Balance Scale www.strokecenter.org
     Activities-specific Balance Confidence(ABC)Scale
     Tinetti Assessment Tool
     
   • Assess Gait
     Dynamic Gait Index
     Tinetti Assessment Tool
     
   • Assess for Fall Risk
     Morse Fall Scale
     Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)
     
   • Nutrition
     
   • Footwear
     www.temple.edu/older_adult/appendixB.htm
     
   • Medication Regimen Review
     http://uncnews.unc.edu
     
   • Continence
   
   
4. Brochures and posters downloadable suitable for staff, families and clients
   www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm

5. Hourly Rounding Practice Model
   
6. Don't leave a high risk person unsupervised
   
7. Education
   
8. Equipment to Reduce Injury (to be developed)
   
   

Aging Services thanks 2010 Annual Sponsor Northland Securities, Inc. and our other sponsors for their support and partnership.