Falls Prevention Program for At-Risk Adults
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Overseen byMiguel Garcia, PT, DPT, EdD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Must not be taking: Anti-coagulants
Disqualifiers: Inability to kneel, No clearance, others
No Placebo Group
Approved in 3 Jurisdictions
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this interventional study is to implement a Falls Prevention Program to impact the risk and injuries related to falls. The main question is to learn and examine the effects of a falls prevention program on the functional mobility of adults at risk for falls.
Participants will:
* Complete functional mobility assessments
* Complete Falls prevention obstacle course training
* Complete Falls Strategies Training
* Complete walking and balance training
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are taking prescription anti-coagulants, you need physician clearance to participate.
What data supports the effectiveness of the Falls Prevention Program treatment?
Research shows that community-based fall prevention programs can help reduce falls in older adults by identifying risks and providing appropriate interventions. These programs have been effective in some studies, although results can vary depending on how they are implemented.
12345Is the Falls Prevention Program safe for humans?
The Falls Prevention Program, under various names, has been implemented in community settings and involves activities like exercise, eye exams, and home safety checks. These programs are generally safe and aim to increase safety awareness and knowledge among older adults, helping them live independently and safely.
56789How is the Falls Prevention Program different from other treatments for preventing falls in older adults?
The Falls Prevention Program is unique because it is a community-based approach that combines multiple strategies, such as exercise, home hazard assessments, and health screenings, to address various risk factors for falls, making it more comprehensive than single-strategy treatments.
710111213Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults aged 18-100 who are at risk of falling, can attend sessions twice a week for five weeks, and have medical clearance to participate. They should be able to perform basic mobility tasks like getting up from a chair in less than 45 seconds. People on anti-coagulants without doctor's approval or those unable to kneel or sit on the floor aren't eligible.Inclusion Criteria
I am between 18 and 100 years old.
I am either male or female.
I am at risk for falls, based on my history or test results.
Exclusion Criteria
I am not cleared by a doctor to join a falls prevention program.
I cannot kneel, sit on the floor, and get back up without help.
I am on prescription blood thinners without approval from my doctor to join this trial.
+2 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Falls Prevention Training
Participants complete 10 sessions of falls prevention training, including obstacle course training, falls strategies, and walking and balance exercises.
10 weeks
10 visits (in-person)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in postural assessment, fall risk, and balance confidence from baseline to 1-year post intervention.
1 year
Participant Groups
The study tests a Falls Prevention Program aimed at improving functional mobility and reducing fall risks and injuries. Participants will undergo assessments, obstacle course training, strategies training, as well as walking and balance exercises.
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Falls Prevention trainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The intervention consists of 10 sessions. One session a week consists of obstacle course training. The other session consists of falls strategies and walking and balance exercises. Each session lasts approximately 1.5 hours
Falls Prevention Program is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:
πΊπΈ Approved in United States as Falls Prevention Program for:
- Prevention of falls and fall-related injuries in adults at risk
πͺπΊ Approved in European Union as Community-Based Falls Prevention Program for:
- Reduction of falls risk in older adults
- Improvement of functional mobility in adults at risk for falls
π¨π¦ Approved in Canada as Falls Prevention Intervention for:
- Prevention of falls in community-dwelling older adults
- Reduction of fall-related injuries
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of St Augustine for Health ScienceMiami, FL
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesLead Sponsor
References
A systematic review of risk factors associated with accidental falls, outcome measures and interventions to manage fall risk in non-ambulatory adults. [2022]To systematically review peer-reviewed literature pertaining to risk factors, outcome measures and interventions managing fall risk in non-ambulatory adults.
Effectiveness of falls clinics: an evaluation of outcomes and client adherence to recommended interventions. [2019]To evaluate outcomes associated with falls clinic programs.
Community-based fall assessment compared with hospital-based assessment in community-dwelling older people over 65 at high risk of falling: a randomized study. [2019]The effectiveness of community-based fall assessment programs in older people is unclear. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of community-based fall assessment compared with hospital-based assessment.
Formative evaluation of the telecare fall prevention project for older veterans. [2021]Fall prevention interventions for community-dwelling older adults have been found to reduce falls in some research studies. However, wider implementation of fall prevention activities in routine care has yielded mixed results. We implemented a theory-driven program to improve care for falls at our Veterans Affairs healthcare facility. The first project arising from this program used a nurse advice telephone line to identify patients' risk factors for falls and to triage patients to appropriate services. Here we report the formative evaluation of this project.
The Efficacy of Fall Hazards Identification on Fall Outcomes: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. [2022]To investigate the efficacy of fall hazards identification programs when compared to no intervention or other fall prevention programs on number of falls, falls incidence, and identifying fall hazards in community-dwelling adults.
Fall and injury prevention. [2007]Falls and related injuries are increasingly being recognized as a nursing-sensitive quality indicator, and they continue to be an unsolved patient safety problem in inpatient and outpatient care areas as well as in the community at large. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current research related to fall and injury prevention. The chapter is organized presenting research in (1) the community and (2) acute and long-term care settings. For each setting, the research that addresses risk factors, risk assessment instruments, and fall and injury prevention efforts are reviewed. There is a large body of research that investigates fall and injury prevention across the care continuum. In the community setting, targeted risk evaluation in the emergency department and management of vitamin D deficiency appear to be promising preventive methods. However, further research needs to explore staffing ratios, automated methods of assessing and communicating fall risk, improved methods and timing of risk evaluation and methods by which existing and new evidence might be translated into practice.
Development of a community-based fall prevention program: Stay In Balance. [2021]Falls and fall-related injuries are critical issues for older adults; evidence indicates that multidimensional interventions that address modifiable risk factors can be successful in reducing falls. Few evidence-based fall prevention interventions exist due, in part, to complex issues associated with development and implementation. There is a need for a variety of such programs from which older adults may choose. We describe steps, outcomes, and issues involved in developing/implementing an evidenced-based fall prevention program in community settings.
Four Smart Steps: Fall Prevention for Community-Dwelling Older Adults. [2019]Falls are associated with enormous costs in morbidity and early mortality, as well as loss of safe, independent lifestyles for community-dwelling older adults. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an author-designed, easy-to-remember guide to fall prevention for community-dwelling older adults and enhance their awareness and knowledge of fall risks in the home. A Four Smart Steps Fall Prevention program (exercise, eye exams, home safety, and primary care visits) presented fall prevention education for community-dwelling older adults. The project was implemented at a senior center by registered nurses and evaluated through an anonymous questionnaire. The desired outcome was an increase in safety awareness and knowledge of fall prevention for community-dwelling older adults. Community-dwelling older adults with enhanced education on fall prevention will be more likely to be able to live independently within a safe environment.
Engaging community-based organizations in fall prevention education. [2016]Falls are a major public health problem for older adults, and community-based organizations play a key role in educating seniors about falls prevention (FP). We conducted a qualitative process evaluation at six sites to report community-based centers' perspectives on adoption, adaptation, and sustainability of an evidence-based multifactorial FP model. Wide dissemination of new health-oriented programs requires marketing to center directors, who must consider sustainability options. The diversity and independence of community-based organizations, together with current staffing and funding limitations, suggest that fidelity to multifactorial evidence-based interventions will be difficult to achieve.
Evidence-Based Community Fall Prevention Programs at Senior Centers Near 10 US Academic Centers. [2020]The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that patients at risk of falling engage in evidence-based community fall prevention programs (EBCFPPs). EBCFPPs are often delivered in senior centers (SCs). This is the first independent assessment of availability of EBCFPPs in SCs.
Improving Local Service Delivery to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Translating Research to Practice. [2021]Unintentional falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among Americans 65 years of age and older and place an enormous burden on the health care system. As the population continues to age, preventing falls will be increasingly important for reducing morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. Evidence-based fall prevention interventions for older adults exist, but widespread adoption of these interventions is needed. Local health departments, Area Agencies on Aging, first responders, and health care professionals can all play important roles in implementing fall prevention programs. This article presents a conceptual model for local delivery of fall prevention programs for community-dwelling older adults. This model can serve as a guide for translating existing fall prevention research into practice.
Older adult fall prevention practices among primary care providers at accountable care organizations: A pilot study. [2023]Falls are a serious and common problem among older adults. Low-tech, inexpensive, community-based fall prevention programs have been shown to be both effective and cost effective, however, these programs are not well-integrated into clinical practice.
Update on falls prevention for community-dwelling older adults: review of single and multifactorial intervention programs. [2009]The incidence of falls, fall-related injuries, and fall-associated costs continue to rise along with the increase in the aging population. Community-based fall prevention programs for the elderly are proliferating in an attempt to address this health problem. Prevention programs vary widely in their scope, ranging from single intervention strategies to comprehensive multifactorial approaches. Programs have been offered to targeted groups of elderly individuals at high risk for falls and to nonselect groups of community-dwelling elderly adults. This article presents a review of randomized controlled trials that investigated the effectiveness of fall prevention programs for community-dwelling older adults. Following a comprehensive critical analysis of the literature, we present the following guidelines: (1) multifactorial fall prevention programs appear to be more effective for older individuals with a previous fall history versus a nonselect group; (2) medication and vision assessment with appropriate health practitioner referral should be included in a falls screening examination; (3) exercise alone is effective in reducing falls and should include a comprehensive program combining muscle strengthening, balance, and/or endurance training for a minimum of 12 weeks; and (4) home hazard assessment with modifications may be beneficial in reducing falls, especially in a targeted group of individuals.