Resources
Clarification from Jane Mahoney, MD
The randomized trial to evaluate Sure Step found a 45% reduction in rate of falls among the subset of older adults with mild or moderate cognitive impairment. For older adults without cognitive impairment, Sure Step had no benefit in reducing falls. (09/25/08) |
Preventing Falls: What Works. A Compendium of Effective Community-based Interventions from Around the World (pdf) contains 14 community-based actions or activities that have proven effective in reducing falls among older adults. This resource gives public health practitioners and community organizations descriptions and relevant details about these interventions.
Preventing Falls: How to Develop Community-based Fall Prevention Programs for Older Adults (pdf) provides community-based organizations with a guide for developing fall prevention programs. This useful how-to describes the building blocks of effective fall prevention programs and gives examples, resources, and tips for creating, promoting, and evaluating a fall prevention program.
CDC's Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury
An initiative developed in collaboration with 26 organizations to help children of older adults and other caregivers prevent, recognize, and respond to fall-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) among older adults. This initiative features easy-to-use English- and Spanish-language materials for caregivers and older adults, as well as event and media guides for organizations and public health professionals.
CDC also has easy to read brochures in English, Spanish and Chinese to help seniors and their caregivers prevent falls. To learn more about CDC’s work in preventing older adult falls, visit www.cdc.gov/injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC
Falls Free: Promoting a National Falls Prevention Action Plan
National Action Plan
NCOA Center for Healthy Aging, 2005
In response to escalating concerns related to falls and fall-related injuries among the aging population, and to address the challenges and barriers related to a national falls prevention initiative, The National Council on the Aging (NCOA), with support from the Archstone Foundation and the Home Safety Council, is spearheading an initiative entitled Falls Free: Promoting a National Falls Prevention Action Plan.
Evidence strongly suggests that falls result from multiple factors that can be both intrinsic to the individual, and within the environment. While recognizing that falls prevention requires integrated assessment and management of the full range of causative factors, this plan is organized around four primary risk factors, as well as issues that cut across multiple concerns (cross-cutting issues).
The involvement and collaboration of multiple and diverse groups including, but not limited to, consumers, health care providers, policy makers, aging services professionals, representatives of building and construction industries, and community health professionals will be required in order to successfully implement this plan.
Thirty-six strategies are proposed, based on input from the Falls Free Summit participants. The strategies are organized under goals within each risk factor. It is important to note that the strategies and action steps are not prioritized in this document.
Research Review Papers
NCOA Center for Healthy Aging, 2005
The enclosed review papers were commissioned in support of the National Council on Aging's Falls Free Initiative, funded by the Archstone Foundation and the Home Safety Council. The primary purpose of these papers is to familiarize Falls Free National Summit participants with the most current fall prevention research and public health data. These papers, prepared by nationally recognized experts, include discussions of implications and recommendations across four primary risk factors: physical mobility, medications management, home safety and environmental safety.
Traumatic Brain Injuries can Result from Senior Falls
Fall-related TBI deaths and hospitalizations among older adults—United States, 2005 (pdf)
Center for Health Aging Online Training Modules
Publications
Mahoney J, Shea TA, Przybelski R, Jaros L, Gangnon R, Cech S, Schwalbe A. Kenosha County Falls Prevention Study: A randomized, controlled trial of an intermediate-intensity, community-based multifactorial falls intervention. J Am Geriatr Soc, 2007; 55:489-498.
Clemson L, Cumming RG, Kendig H, Swann M, Heard R, Taylor K. The effectiveness of a community-based program for reducing the incidence of falls among the elderly: A randomized trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004; 52,1487-1494.
American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society, and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention. Guideline for the prevention of falls in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001; 49:179-187.
Stevens JA, Sogolow ED. Preventing Falls: What Works. A CDC Compendium of Effective Community-Based Interventions from Around the World. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2008.
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Preventing Falls: How to Develop Community-based Fall Prevention Programs for Older Adults. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008.
To find out more information about Sure Step and Stepping On, contact:
Sandy Cech, RN
Prevention Coordinator, Falls Prevention/Chronic Disease Self-Management
Kenosha County Division of Aging Services
8600 Sheridan Road
Kenosha, WI 53143
262-605-6671
scech@co.Kenosha.wi.us
Jane Mahoney, MD
Associate Professor, Geriatrics
Department of Medicine
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
2870 University Ave, Suite 106
Madison, WI 53705
608-262-8597
jm2@medicine.wisc.edu
National Council on Aging, Center for Healthy Aging
The Center serves as a National Resource Center for the dissemination of evidence-based health promotion and injury prevention programs and houses many tools, resources and publications designed to enhance effective dissemination.
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