Resources For Service Providers

Elderly Falls Cut By 11 Percent With Education And Intervention - A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine July 17 showed that the elderly population reduced falls when given the proper education and prevention techniques.

Avoid Bad Falls by Exercising to Improve Balance - Recent article by the AARP on how exercising and increased balance can help reduce the risks of falls.

Utilization of a Screening Tool to Identify Homebound Older Adults at Risk for Falls: Validity and Reliability - This report from Home Health Care Services Quarterly examins the reliability and validity of a Falls Risk Assessment (FRA) tool developed to identify risk factors associated with falls in homebound older adults. (PDF)

Analysis of research on preventing falls and falls injury in older people: Community, residential care and hospital settings, An (2004 update) - This report updates the available research evidence for effective strategies in reducing falls and injurious falls rates among older people, building on a research review published in 2000. The work was conducted for the Injury Prevention Section, Population Health Division, Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing. (PDF)

Assessing the Environment for Fall Prevention (2004) - These power point slides were presented at the Archstone Foundation California Fall Prevention Consortium at the ASA/NCOA Annual Conference in San Francisco on April 15, 2004. (PDF)

Best Practices Guide for the Prevention of Falls Among Seniors Living in the Community, A (2001) - This Guide from Canada is based primarily on a systematic review of the studies evaluating the effectiveness of fall prevention strategies for community-dwelling seniors and then, based on these studies, determining effective interventions and strategies. (PDF)

California Infrastructure for Fall Prevention (2003) - Conference Proceedings from the conference “Creating a California Blueprint for Fall Prevention: Proceedings of a Statewide Conference.” The Archstone Foundation, October 2004. (PDF)

Check for Safety (2004) (Spanish Version) - A home fall prevention checklist for older adults published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (PDF)

Creating a California Blueprint for Fall Prevention (2003) - Conference Proceedings from the conference “Creating a California Blueprint for Fall Prevention: Proceedings of a Statewide Conference.” The Archstone Foundation, October 2004.(PDF)

Directory of Accessible Building Products (2005) - This 2005 directory from the National Association of Home Builders contains information on over 200 products available to individuals with disabilities and functional limitations. The products listed are designed to enhance functional ability and accessibility in housing units; thus, reducing the risks for falls.

Falls Among Older Persons and the Role of the Home: An Analysis Of Cost, Incidence, and Potential Savings from Home Modification (2002) This article highlights the incidence and cost of fall injuries, the causes of falls, and the role of home modifications in fall prevention efforts. In addition, the article outlines a Sensitivity analysis by the Lewin Group which focuses on home modifications
cost and effectiveness on falls reduction.

Falls prevention best practice guidelines for public hospitals and state government residential aged care facilities (2001) - A publication of the State of Queensland, Australia, that identified three key components of falls prevention programs: risk identification, falls prevention, and injury prevention strategies. (PDF)

Fear of Falling Among Seniors: Needs Assessment and Intervention Strategies (2003) - A beta version of an online course from the University of Pittsburgh.

Guideline for the Prevention of Falls in Older Persons (2001) - This guideline was developed and written under the auspices of the American
Geriatrics Society (AGS) Panel on Falls in Older Persons. (PDF)

Home Health Care Management, Caring Choices (April 2006) - Multi-Factorial Fall Risk Assessment and Intervention for Community Dwelling Seniors: The Role of Home Health Agencies.

How Can We Help Older People Not Fall Again (2003) - Published by the Department of Health, United Kingdom, this publication provides guidance for implementation of the NSF for Older People Standard 6 falls prevention. (PDF)

International Falls Prevention Plans

• Queensland , Australia. (PDF)
• Victoria, Australia
• North Sydney, Australia
• Australian Government: Dept of Health and Ageing
• Australia Program Targeting Greeks and Italians (PDF)
  
• South Africa Department of Health (PDF)
  
• Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care (PDF)
• United Kingdom: OMNI
  
• Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Canada: Best Practice (PDF)
  
• New Zealand Guidelines Group (PDF)
  
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Ireland
  

Management of Hip Fracture (2002) - A quick reference guide published by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. (PDF)

National Falls Prevention Plans

• American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
• American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society, and American Academy Of Orthopedic Surgeons: Clinical Practice Guidelines  (PDF)
• American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention: Guidelines for the prevention of falls in older persons
• Centers for Disease Control
• Department of Health and Human Services: Center for Disease Control (2000). U.S. Fall Prevention Programs for Seniors (PDF)
• National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~National Resource Center
• National Osteoporosis Foundation (PDF)
• Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education
  
• National Resource Center for Safe Aging

National Falls Prevention For Older People Plan: 2004 Onwards (2005) - The purpose of this Plan is to provide a strategic framework for collaborative action across jurisdictions, local government and organizations, to prevent falls and minimize fall related injuries in older people throughout Australia. (PDF)

Patient Handout: Balance and Fall Prevention - Simple exercises to improve balance and muscle strength. (PDF)

Physical Fitness: A Tool for Healthy Aging - Debra J. Rose's powerpoint presentation from the Center for Successful Aging at California State University in Fullerton (Presented at the SIPP Conference). (PDF)

Prevention and Management of Hip Fracture in Older People: A national clinical guideline (2002) - A publication of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. (PDF)

Prevention of Falls and Fall Injuries in the Older Adult (Revised 2005) - Published by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, Canada, the purpose of the guideline is to increase all nurses’ confidence, knowledge, skills and abilities in the identification of adults within health care facilities at risk of falling, and to define interventions for the prevention of falling. It does not include interventions for the prevention of falls and fall injuries in older adults living in community settings. (PDF)

Prevention of Falls and Injuries Among the Elderly (2004) - Published by the Ministry of Health Planning, British Columbia, this report presents new epidemiological findings that illustrate the huge toll from falls among the elderly. (PDF)

Promising Pathways: Fall Prevention Programs for Older Canadians Living In The Community (2002) - A handbook for professionals and others who work with seniors and veterans in the community.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Fall Prevention Strategies in Old Peoples’ Homes, A (2000) - This study set out to examine the preventability of falls in older people living in institutional care. (PDF)

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Multicomponent Home Intervention to Reduce Functional Difficulties in Older Adults, A (2006) - This study set out to test the efficacy of a multicomponent intervention to reduce functional difficulties, fear of falling, and home hazards and enhance self efficacy and adaptive coping in older adults with chronic conditions. (PDF)

Role of the Environment in Fall Prevention at Home and in the Community, The (2004) - A White Paper prepared for the National Council on the Aging, “Falls Free Summit,” December 2004.

Role of Home Modification in Fall Prevention (2003) - Conference Proceedings from the conference “Creating a California Blueprint for Fall Prevention: Proceedings of a Statewide Conference.” The Archstone Foundation, October 2004. (PDF)

State of Home Modification, The (2004) - Modifications that make homes more supportive and accessible can have a large impact on a person’s independence, safety, and ability to carry out tasks. They are key components in efforts to allow persons to live in the community.

State of the Art in Fall Prevention (2003) - Conference Proceedings from the conference “Creating a California Blueprint for Fall Prevention: Proceedings of a Statewide Conference.” The Archstone Foundation, October 2004. (PDF)

U.S. Fall Prevention Programs for Seniors (2000) - A selection of U.S. fall prevention programs that use home assessment and modification, along with sample home safety checklists.

What You Can Do To Prevent Falls (Spanish Version)
A print-ready publication from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that lists four simple actions that can help reduce the risk for falls. (PDF)

“You Can Prevent Falls” (2002) (Series of fact sheets from the Division of Aging and Seniors, Public Health Agency of Canada.)

1. By following these tips. (PDF)
   
2. By having a safe home and lifestyle. (PDF)
   
3. By improving your health. (PDF)
   
4. By involving your community. (PDF)
   
5. By reducing the risks. (PDF)
   
6. It’s a fact. (PDF)