Falls Prevention
Quality of Falls Care
Falls Cost Billions
- Among community-dwelling older adults, fall-related injury is one of the 20 most expensive medical conditions.
- In 2000 total direct cost (age 65>) exceeded $19 billion
- In 2002 Medicare $$ per fall averaged between $9,113 & $13,507
- In 2009, ERs treated 2.2 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults;
- 582,000 of these patients had to be hospitalized.
- 2020 annual/direct/indirect cost $54.9 billion (in 2007 $$)
Carroll NV, et al. The cost of falls among the community-dwelling elderly. Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy. 2005; 11(4): 307-16.
Centers for disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [ online]. Accessed November 30, 2010.
Shumway, et al. Falls in the Medicare population: incidence, associated factors, and impact on health care. Physical Therapy 2009.89(4):1-9.
Stevens JA, et al. The costs of fatal and nonfatal falls among older adults. Injury Prevention 2006;12:290-5
Falls a Major Public Health Issue
- Constitute major reason for traumatic deaths in older adults
- Most frequent cause of hospital admissions due to injury
- 1 in 3 (age 65 >) fall each year
- Of those, 20% - 30% suffer moderate to severe injuries
Hausdorff JM, et al. Gait Variability and fall risk in community-living older adults: a 1-year prospective study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2001;82(8): 1050-6
Resources
Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries 2012 (STEADI Tool Kit) is based on the AGS clinical guidelines and incorporates input from health care providers. In the STEADI Tool Kit you will find; provider resources and training materials such as a wall chart pocket guide with algorithm and prevention strategies, case studies booklet fact sheets, gait and balance assessments, fall prevention patient referral forms, and patient education materials. www.cdc.gov//injury/STEADI
Evidence-based Falls Prevention in Critical Access Hospitals - Policy Brief#24 - December 2011
Fall Risk Assessment ( Hendrich II Fall Risk Model) for professionals is available at www.consultgerirn.org/
Fall Risk Assessment from www.hwrtfordign.org
Home Safety Evaluations by an occupational therapist of a physical therapist may be available through Medicare Part A or B. Contact SMAA at 1-800-427-7411 for more information and a list of providers.
Matter of Balance is an evidence –based program for people who are concerned about falling. It teaches problem solving strategies, exercise, and safety to both reduce the risk of falls and help individuals continue to participate in those activities that are important to them. Classes are offered at locations in the community through SMAA 1-800-427-7411 www.smaa.org/ Safety Checklist is available from the Family Caregiver Support Program at SMAA 1-800-427-7411 healthyagingprograms.org/
Walking: Healthy Maine Walks lists indoor and outdoor walking trails at http://www.healthymainewalks.org/
Fall Prevention Information is available on the Connecticut Fall Prevention Coalition website, www.fallprevention.org and on the Falls Prevention Center Excellence website, www.stopfalls.org
Home Safety Council – For information about falls & safety for older adults; www.homesafetycouncil.org. This website includes various safety checklists.
American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention. Guidelines for the prevention of falls in older persons. JAGS.001; 49:664-672
Primary Care-Relevant Interventions to Prevent Falling in Older Adults: ASystematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Task force. Ann Intern Med. 2010;153:915-825
Quality Indicators for Falls and Mobility Problems in Vulnerable Elders. JAGS,2007;55:S327-S334
Quality Indicators for the Management and Prevention of Falls and Mobility Problems in Vulnerable Elders. Ann Intern Med. 2001;135 (8 Part 2):686-693
Summary of the Updated American Geriatrics Society /British Geriatrics Society Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in Older Persons. JAGS.2011;59:148-157
National Council on the Aging - www.healthyagingprograms.com/content.asp?sectionid=69
National Safety Council has put together a list of helpful links regarding fall prevention. http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/Resources/Pages/Resources.aspx
National Institutes of Health is a good place to start if you are looking for on-line reliable health information on almost any health topic.
ww.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications
Falls Statewide & National Resources
2-1-1-Maine www.211maine.org or 1-877-463-6207 (toll free), health and human services information and referral service system to serve the entire State of Maine.
A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls - www.mainehealth.org/pfha or call your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771 (toll free)
A Tool Kit to Prevent Senior Falls - www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/toolkit.htm, fall fact sheets, brochures, publications from the CDC.
American Geriatrics Society - http://www.americangeriatrics.org, for falls toolkit www.gericareonline.net/tools/eng/falls/index.html, for Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in Older Persons (2010) http://www.americangeriatrics.org/health_care _professionals/clinical_practice/clinical_guidelines_recommendations/2010/
Chang JT, Ganz GA. Quality Indicators for Falls and Mobility Problems in Vulnerable Elders. JAGS 2007; 55:327-334- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-415.2007.01339.x/pdf
Easy-Exercise and Screening for you- www.easyforyou.info
Fall Prevention Center of Excellence- www.stopfalls.org
Home Safety Council - www.homesafetycouncil.org
National Council on the Aging-Center for Healthy Aging- www.healthyagingprograms.com/content.asp?sectionid=69
National Institute on Aging Information Center- www.nia.nih.gov/healthinformation/publications
National Institute on Health Senior Health- www.nihseniorhealth.gov
National Resource Center for Safe Aging-www.safeaging.org/default.asp
Primary Care-Relevant Interventions to Prevent Falling in Older Adults: A systematic Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Clinical Guideline- www.annals.org