Fall Prevention Strategies

Thank you for your information. I total agree evidence-based practice in fall prevention has improved patients' outcome. In my hospital, we did have 75 patients fall last year and one of them even caused the fracture which cost an arm and a leg. Therefore, the manager searches the evidence -based research and try to prevent these accidents. After implementing the fall prevention protocol with evidence-based practice, we have decreased our fall to 7 from the beginning of this year to the present. The real example can be the strong evidence to support that evidence-based practice can benefit from patients,

The occurrence of falls among the elderly is related to multiple factors, such as inherent and external issues. Studies have proven that when appropriate intervention is put in place, falls are preventable. A quality improvement according to Polit & Beck (2012) is created to examine the willingness of individuals to understand these studies and put them into practice or to appraise the results of interventions already in place. This paper will examine a practice issue facilitated by the advanced practice nurse (APN), explore the theoretical underpinning of change, describe an improvement tool and model for improvement and allocated resources towards the prevention of fall among the elderly.

I am going to focus on a particular and an effective intervention for fall prevention in aged care facilities, which is medication review. According to Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2009, p. 72), almost all of residents in aged care facilities are prescribed one medication and more than 60% of residents are prescribed 4 or more medications, 47% taking psychoactive drugs regularly, 11% taking sedatives regularly and 21% taking antidepressants regularly. Polypharmacy is highly common in aged care facilities in this country and has been proven as one of the main factors for falls (Baranzini et al. 2009, p. 228). Certain types of medications are strongly associated with the negative outcomes, such as diuretics, antiarrhythmics,

Falls are considered a leading cause of mortality and injury among older adults and majority of the falls occurs while hospitalized. One would think being in the hospital would be one of the safest places for older adults as far as fall prevention is concern due to the fact that hospitals provide staffing around the clock for patients but more and more falls have been occurring in the hospital especially in the older adult population. Fall is an unintended descent to the ground. It raises public and family care liability; it also decreases patient’s functioning because it causes pain and suffering, and increases medical costs (Saverino et al, 2015). The Center for Disease Control

We need to measure the incidents then only we can improve it.so we need to counted and tracked falls rates for quality improvement program. Through tracking programs we know whether the care is improving, staying the same, or it worsening. Our unit is continuously assess our fall rates and fall prevention practice. Fall and fall-related injury rates can measure how well you are following in making patients safer related to falls. Compared to previous year we improved to prevent fall related

Multiple campaigns have begun to bring awareness to falls and fall prevention. Lifestyles and changes at home can be made to help older adults live a more active, healthy and independent life. By making these changes older adults are making their quality of life better as they continue to age (“New Campaign,” 2016). Older adults should try to understand what factors put them at risk for falling. Researchers have determined the best way to prevent falls, and have identified programs that aid in fall prevention. Though not all risks can be eliminated, a plan to recognize and reduce risks can be developed with a medical provider. There are various physical activity programs that focus on increasing balance and mobility skills to reduce falls. Changes to reduce hazards in the home and community can help a person in fulfilling their daily activities (Basics of Fall Prevention, 2016). There are multiple causes that can lead to a fall, but weak muscles and poor balance contribute to most falls (Gardner et al., 1999).

The purpose of this study was to provide normative data on fall prevalence in US hospitals by unit type and to determine the 27-month trends in falls prior to the implementation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) rule which does not reimburse hospitals for care related to injury resulting from hospital falls. Does the fact that Medicare will not pay for hospital stays affect the attention nursing staff pay to patients who are fall risks.

achieve this goal is urgent. Therefore, the unit Manager, the Environmental Manager and staff members will have a meeting in 2 days. The details about the plan of action will be discussed, role play, and the watching of a short video. Copies of the revised fall prevention policy and protocols will be distributed; patients and family will be aware of implementations that are in place to prevent obliterating falls.

Iman your article so interesting for me. Fall prevention among the older people is a big issue the health care facility facing now and are the most common cause of emergency room visits among older adults. I really never hear any information about how the vestibular therapy can prevent falling. I agree with you no one can prevent all patient from falls but at least can reduce the risk of fall to prevent another big issue such as prolonged hospitalization, and reduce the hospital cost. I know the balance is the main problem can cause risk of fall among older adult especially with age progressing most of sensory and organ not work 100%. In your article, you not mentioned what kind of condition those patients who participated have. Is it imbalance

The incidence of falls on the medical surgical unit remains consistently higher than the other Advocate hospitals on the medical surgical units during the past two years. Research has identified multiple possible causes of potential reasons patient falls still have a high incident rate. If nurses can recognize potential risk factors for potential falls, this can eliminate patient injury and long term effects. Falls can happen ay any time of the day, and do not discriminated against individuals. They happen on different types of units and facilities, but are there more occurrences on certain units or specific times of day? Let’s see what what our others have found while preforming research on patient falls.

You share good EBP search strategy for fall prevention in geriatric populations. In our daily practice, we always applied the best of evidence, as level of our knowledge and clinical experience. According to Crist, McVay and Marocco (2016),evidence is more powerful basis for our practice. Here, you mention two generalized term as geriatric population and fall prevention that is the main reason you get numbers of articles.

A 2008 study assessed the relationship between fear of falling and avoidance of everyday activities. The study involved 3,474 respondents age 65 years or older, almost a quarter of the respondents reported falls. And another 22 percent reported a fear of falling, as age increased so did these variables. (Bertera, 2008) Fear of falling in this population was the greatest factor in predicting activity avoidance. The number of falls increased that fear of falling and therefore impacted the likelihood to avoid activities due to that perceived threat. Another study assessed fall-related efficacy as it pertained to fear of falling and its impact on activity avoidance. Fall-related efficacy was found to be a potent independent correlate of Activities of Daily Living. (Tinnetti, 1994) As efficacy was lower, activities were avoided and vice versa.

Many people continue to raise alarm over a big number of old people who are falling in nursing homes. This is according to reports which indicates that old people are nursing injuries which caused by falls. Research indicates that old people who are from 65 years of age and above are the most affected by this problem. Most of these people do not have sufficient strength and this leads to falls. When they fall, some get injured where even some lose their lives. This being the case, different statistics have been presented regarding the number of old people who fall and those who are affected by this problem. It is important to note that a large number of old people suffer from various sicknesses. These leads to their lack of ability to support themselves and thus the cause of their falls. Nursing homes are increasingly reporting cases of old people who fall. There are groups and individuals who have raised concerns regarding the increasing numbers of these falls in nursing homes. Some have indicated that this is led by lack of proper care which is caused by recklessness in various duties. Some nursing homes have inadequate personnel to assist old people and this leads to

Falls in the elderly are importantly linked to attention and decision making, so understanding how people program their step and stop during gait initiation will identify the mechanisms responsible for falls and will help to make rehabilitation plans towards neural impairment patient.

The purpose of this research was to have an 18-month study that implement evidence based fall prevention to target that patient specific fall risk factor (Targeted risk factor fall prevention bundle). The research also assesses the influence it had on reducing falls and fall associated injuries. Some of the study potential contribution is to reduce prolonged hospitals stay, decrease hospital cost, decrease death, decrease discharges to sub-acute rehab, and reduce the loss of mobility. Since falls can result in fractures, soft tissue trauma and even death; this research aims to prevent these from ever happening.