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Healthy Aging Briefing Series: Safe Steps: A Falls Prevention Program for Seniors

Sponsored by The National Council on the Aging and CareSource. Healthy Aging Briefing Series. Healthy Aging Briefing Series: Safe Steps: A Falls Prevention Program for Seniors. WELCOME.

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Healthy Aging Briefing Series: Safe Steps: A Falls Prevention Program for Seniors

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  1. Sponsored by The National Council on the Aging and CareSource Healthy Aging Briefing Series Healthy Aging Briefing Series: Safe Steps: A Falls Prevention Program for Seniors WELCOME This session will begin promptly at 1:30pm ESTPlease mute your phonePersonal introductions are not necessaryThe moderator will be on the line shortly

  2. Safe Steps: A Falls Prevention Program for SeniorsAngela D, Mickalide, Ph.D., CHESDirector, Education and OutreachNational Council on the AgingHealthy Aging Briefing SeriesJune 15, 2006

  3. Home Safety Council The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes.

  4. Home Safety Research Conducted the largest and most comprehensive study of injuries at home – the State of Home Safety in America™ Each year, preventable injuries in the home: • Result in nearly 20,000 deaths • Cause nearly 21 million medical visits • Are the fifth leading cause of death overall • Are 2.5 times more likely to cause injury than car crashes • Cost our nation up to $380 billion • Cost employers up to $38 billion Commissioned by the Home Safety Council and conducted by the University of North Carolina’s Injury and Prevention Research Center

  5. Home Safety Research State of Home Safety in America™ • Leading causes of home injury death • Falls • Poisoning • Fires / Burns • Choking • Drowning • Falls accounted for one-third of home • injury deaths, an average of nearly • 6,000 deaths per year among all ages

  6. Fall-Related Injuries Among Older Adults in the Home • Overall, one in three persons aged 65 and older falls every year in the United States. • More than 50 percent of all fatal and nonfatal falls occur in the home. • Nearly 1.2 million adults at least 65 years of age are treated in hospital emergency departments due to a fall-related injury that occurs in the home each year.

  7. Cost of Fall-Related Injuries From 1997-2001 falls were the highest cause of medical care costs from unintentional home injuries, with an average annual cost of $100 billion. Falls account for 45% of the total costs of all medically treated unintentional home injuries.

  8. Home Injury Public Opinion Research • Nearly half of all Americans surveyed (47 percent) are unaware that falls are the leading cause of unintentional home injury deaths. • 4 in 10 Americans (41 percent) report a family member has been injured by a fall in the home. • 2/3 of Americans (65 percent) agree that the federal government should fund injury prevention research for seniors.

  9. Opinion Research Findings • More than 1/3 Americans (36 percent) took none of the major steps last year to reduce falls in the home. • The three actions Americans took most often last year to reduce falls in the home were • 43% added nightlights in rooms and hallways • 39% cleared walkways and floors of clutter and cords • 32% installed non-slip mats/decals in bathrooms

  10. Home Injury Public Opinion Research • The three actions Americans took least often last year to reduce falls in the home were: • 14% added dual-tape, rug liners and non-skid backing to area rugs • 15% installed grab bars in the bathroom • 17% added lighting at the top and bottom of stairs

  11. What the Home Safety Council is doing to address this problem

  12. The Home Safety Council’s Safe Steps Program

  13. Safe Steps Falls Prevention Program Promotes three proven falls prevention strategies in one multifaceted program: - home modifications - medication tracking - promotion of physical activity

  14. Safe Steps’ Key Messages • Exercise Daily: Using your muscles helps maintain balance, strength and flexibility. Try Tai Chi, walking, water aerobics, or dancing. • Bathroom Safety: Install grab bars in your shower stall and near a toilet. Never use towel racks for balance – they can easily come loose, causing a fall.

  15. Safe Steps’ Key Messages • Non-skid Rugs: Remove throw rugs, or use rubber backing or apply double-faced adhesive carpet tape to the backs of all area rugs and runners to prevent slipping, or remove them. • Handrails: Install handrails on both sides of all stairways – making sure you have lights at the top and bottom of the stairs.

  16. Safe Steps’ Key Messages • Review Medications: The medications you take – even the foods you eat – can affect your balance. Check with your doctor or pharmacists annually to review your medications and your diet plan. • Footwear: It’s best to wear thin, non-slip soled shoes, not thick-soled jogging shoes.

  17. Dissemination of Safe Steps • 11,000+ Senior Centers in 2005 • 5,000 centers (Phase 1) • 6,000 centers (Phase II, courtesy of Juno Lighting) • Home Safety Council Expert Members • Conferences • Falls Free Summit • Joint Conference of NCOA/ASA

  18. Lifetime Learning Systems’ Evaluation of Safe Steps • Conducted Safe Steps evaluation among staff in 5,000 senior centers (Phase I) and 341 Visiting Nurses Associations in January 2005 • Data collected using surveys and reply cards included in the Safe Steps packets • Safe Steps reached 14,500 senior center directors/program managers/visiting nurses and 310,850 senior center attendees

  19. Ratings of Safe Steps Program • 93 percent usage rate (68 percent already used and 25 percent intended to use later on) • On a five-point scale (1 = poor, 5 = excellent), components of Safe Steps were rated highly: • Video (4.5 average) • Home Assessment Chart (4.2 average) • Wall Poster (4.21 average) • Medication Tracker (3.99 average)

  20. Safe Steps Dissemination Research • University of North Carolina received a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • Grant entitled, “Safe Steps: An Evaluation of Dissemination, Adoption and Implementation of an Older Adult Falls Prevention Program” • HSC staff serve as a consultant and Chair of the Technical Advisory Board

  21. Study Aims • Assess the needs for and barriers to adoption of Safe Steps at community-based senior centers; • Examine the effectiveness of an enhanced dissemination strategy, compared with a mail-out only strategy, in promoting senior center adoption of Safe Steps; and • Identify organizational and individual level factors associated with adoption and implementation of Safe Steps.

  22. Research Methodology Two distinct research approaches: A needs assessment to examine senior centers’ perceived needs and barriers in relation to adopting and implementing Safe Steps; and A randomized trial to determine the most effective approach for dissemination of Safe Steps to ensure its adoption and implementation.

  23. Future Directions in Senior Safety • Expanded distribution of the Safe Steps program through various seniors organizations and national associations, particularly those reaching frail older adults. • National omnibus poll to better understand the steps that adult caregivers (relatives or in-laws) of older adults takes to ensure their safety in the home (e.g., falls, poisoning, fires and burns). • Continued participation in Falls Free Coalition. (Workshop session on Friday, March 17, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm in Grand Ballroom D, Marriott) • Development, implementation and evaluation of programs in all risk areas for older adults (poisoning, fire and burns, drowning, airway obstruction).

  24. Additional Information Please contact: Angela Mickalide, Ph.D., CHES Director of Education and Outreach Home Safety Council 1250 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005 202-330-4907 angela.mickalide@homesafetycouncil.org www.homesafetycouncil.org

  25. QU QUESTIONS? ESTIONS? QUESTIONS??

  26. Don’t Forget Your Free Copy of Aging in Stride Don’t Forget Your Free Copy of Aging in Stride NCOA and Caresource are pleased to offer first-time registrants for this Healthy Aging Briefing Series a complimentary copy of the book, Aging in Stride. To receive your copy, please visitwww.AgingInStride.org/NCOAoffer. Or just email service@caresource.com with your name, title, organization, mailing address, phone number, and date of the Briefing you participated in. One free copy per registrant, please.

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