UNE faculty and students work with older adults to prevent falls

The University of New England is teaming up with the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) to help older adults prevent falls.

Fall prevention was the topic of a recent ‘Maine Calling’ program on Maine Public. UNE’s James Krebs, Pharm.D., assistant dean of Experiential Education in UNE's College of Pharmacy, was a special call-in guest on the show. Anna Guest, director of SMAA’s Falls Prevention Project, was a panelist on the program. 

UNE faculty and students in the College of Pharmacy and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program recently traveled to Yarmouth Town Hall to meet with older adults.

“It’s a way for them to directly engage with patients,” says Krebs.

College of Pharmacy students review medications that patients are taking to determine if specific ones are more likely to cause them to fall. They also suggest ways to reduce the risk of falling.

“It’s an extension of what they learn in the classroom,” explains Krebs. “They can take the knowledge they get in the classroom and apply it directly to their patients. It’s important for our students to be engaged with members of the community.”

Student Rachel Claussen (Doctor of Physical Therapy, ’19) works with patients on their balance and recommends exercise programs they can take part in.

“I got into physical therapy because I'm really interested in helping people,” Claussen says. “I want to make a difference in people's lives and make sure they can be as functional as they can throughout their lifespan.”

Claussen takes patients through three standardized tests to assess their risk of falling. She says working directly with patients provides valuable experience.

“Getting that hands-on experience is extremely important, especially in our profession where we are really working with patients one-on-one,” notes Claussen.

SMAA’s message to older adults is that falls are preventable.

“This is a nice chance for them to get some feedback about what might be going on and learn what they can do about it,” says Anna Guest.

If an older adult can prevent falling, they have a better chance of remaining in their home as they age.

“It’s empowering people with knowledge,” Guest explains. “They have control over some of the risk factors that might be impacting their lives.”

Guest says UNE faculty and students play a tremendous role in spreading that knowledge.

“For us it's just great to have the support of the university,” she notes.