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Abstract
Falls are a significant concern for community-dwelling older adults (OAs), with one in four OAs reporting a fall every year. Occupational therapy students collaborated with first responders of the Novato Fire District to identify gaps in fall prevention community outreach programs and found that many interventions lack an interactive or individualized approach. Based on the gap analysis and current literature, seven education modules were developed to address key risk factors including home modifications, polypharmacy, fear of falling, and balance exercises. Thirty community-dwelling OAs participated in the education modules and were implemented at two senior community sites in Marin County. Participants were screened via Functional Reach Test (FRT) and completed a survey to determine their personal risk factors for falling, which guided their personalized fall prevention education. Of the participants, 90% rated their experience with the education modules as “very good” or “excellent,” and a majority rated the balance exercises as most important. The interactive 1:1 education modules are an effective and innovative method for fall prevention education and highlight the importance of client-centered treatment.
Department
Occupational Therapy
Faculty Advisor
Susan Morris, Ph.D., OTR/L
Publication Date
Fall 2017
Sponsorship/Conference/Institution
Department of Occupational Therapy, Dominican University of California
City
San Rafael, CA
Keywords
Fall prevention, Preventing falls, Education, Older adults, Occupational Therapy, Community program, Education modules, Falls, First responders, Community dwelling, OAs, Community-dwelling OAs
Disciplines
Occupational Therapy