Healthy Aging Goals

So to expand upon our community in Sawyer County, we provide Healthy Aging Programs. We recently hired a Health Promotions Coordinator who was trained in evidence based Stepping On for Balance. Along with and assistant, she is in the process of teaching their second class, which has been a huge success. As a seven week course, with the partnership of many professionals such as physical therapist, pharmacist, eye doctor and others people are learning ways to avoid the fear and possibility of falling, which will allow them to continue to live in their home longer and stay healthier.

Research Hypothesis: Registered nurses utilize evidence-based standards of practice to modify specific risk factors of the elderly with generalize and individualize multi-factorial preventative programs to lower the incidence of falls, therefore preventing injury and preserving quality of life.

Falls among any individual can cause significant trauma, often leading to an increase in mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), one in every three adults over the age of 65 falls each year. Long-term care facilities account for many of these falls, with an average of 1.5 falls occurring per nursing home bed annually (Vu, Weintraub, & Rubenstein, 2004). In 2001, the American Geriatric Society, British Geriatric Society, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention published specific guidelines to prevent falls in long-term

Experience working in the field of health care lends insight to the growing needs of the older adult population, and the barriers which impede our capacity to meet them. As the Baby Boomer age is approaching older adulthood, the rise for financial,

Each year, one out of three elderly people fall (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). The CDC (2015) also reports that once an individual has fallen, the chance that they will fall again doubles. Falls also contribute to an increase in direct medical costs. The CDC (2015) states, “Direct medical costs for fall injuries are thirty-four billion dollars annually. Hospital costs account for two-thirds of the total.” The amount of elderly people who fall each year along with the economic costs that result from falls indicates that preventing patient falls remains an important goal for healthcare workers including nurses. Nurses can use the nursing process—assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation—to prevent patient falls and meet the fall prevention standards set by various regulating bodies.

Falls are a common and complex geriatric syndrome that cause considerable mortality, morbidity, reduced functioning, and premature nursing home admissions. Falls have multiple precipitating causes and predisposing risk factors, which make their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention a difficult clinical challenge. Identifying effective interventions to prevent falls and fall-related injuries among older adults is a major area of research and policy development in geriatrics. Several published clinical guidelines review the evidence for fall prevention strategies and provide recommendations for assessment and intervention (Rubenstein & Josephson, 2006).

With great willingness, I am applying for the position of Senior Program Development Specialist with the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative. My longtime friend, Madelyn Keck, learned of the position and suggested I apply. I am seeking both a change and a challenge and this opportunity provides both. My education, skill-set, and experience make me an excellent candidate for this vacancy.

In DC, community based fall prevention programs have been rising to address falls but fall related incident, injuries and the cost has continuously been rising among elderly people (Costello & Edelstein, 2008). In the study conducted by Berland et al. (2012), showed that in home health, not viewing patient safety as primary prevention, lack of investigation causing fall and frailty of elderly adult have been some factors contributing to falls in home health. Falls negatively impacts an individual living in their home by causing them physical, emotional problem, giving rise to additional cost by losing workdays and income.

Broken bones, hip fractures, head injuries, and even death are a serious concern among the elderly in the long-term care setting resulting from falls. Fall prevention in a long-term care facility with dementia residents presents an ongoing challenge to the entire interdisciplinary care team due to their cognitive impairment. Even with significant protocols in place, falls are still to common. There must be other interventions such as distraction techniques that can help reduce the incidence of falls among this population.

As the population of older adults grows, health care and career opportunities will evolve. (Moody, 2015). Consequently, programming to address the unique needs of individuals in the aging population will be in demand. Senior Reach is a model for senior psychosocial support. The mission and structure of Senior Reach were explored via program resources, staff interviews, and service learning training. Moreover, self reflection determined if the career track merited further pursuit.

Title: Are Registered Nurses Utilizing Evidence-Based Fall-Preventative Strategies to Reduce and Prevent Falls and Injuries in the Elderly Population

Problem statement: According to Quality Improvement Organization Health Services Advisory Group, Alabama’s state average for falls without injury is 41.9% with the National average being slightly higher at 45%, falls with injury in Alabama is 3.2% with the National average being 3.4%. Research done by the Alzheimer’s Association (2016) has revealed that “People with dementia are at risk of falls because of their neurological impairments.” Another study completed by Esstmann discusses “The etiology of orthostatic hypotension should be investigated for older adults with known orthostatic

The organization strategic goals include a mission to empower our skilled nursing community and independent living residents to live healthy, comfortable, and socially interactive lives, we value and ensure that patients receive quality care and provide a nurturing environment that promotes personal care for all individuals to maintain the highest level of functional skills possible. The current project being proposed which is to involve direct care nursing and interdisciplinary staff in monitoring, trending, interpreting and improving the prevention and identification of risk, to maintain the highest level of functional skills aligns with the organization’s strategic process. Will implementing an educational program for nurses to perform a multifactorial fall risk assessment tool which includes evaluation of activities of daily living and mental status to reduce elderly falls living in the long-term care setting versus no education? This is an appropriate question related to meeting Criterion

Nursing intervention for fall prevention could improve older adult’ quality of life. Intermittently missing nursing care, also known as error of omission, is related to the staff’s education and skills level. According to Kalisch, Lee, and Tschnnen (2012), falls decreased 4% to 25% in health setting after giving education for fall prevention strategy. In other words, without providing education, there’s a possibility for older adults to fall by a health care provider who has inadequate knowledge for fall risks. Even if aging patients already have a high chance of falling due to their health condition, a health care provider could make the situation worse. Therefore, fall prevention education is important for both older adults and health care providers. Fall prevention requires participation from both sides.

My mission is to become a professional who would manage, lead, and improve a dynamic healthcare system. Understandably, marketing and public relations in healthcare require financing and regulations to make positive impacts in the lives of clients and co-workers. My interest in taking a healthcare career was founded on three factors: leadership, quality improvement, and healthy aging. My career mission is founded on emerging as a skilled servant leader by not doing the job for myself, but to fulfill the organization’s mission. I would prefer serving my clients without an ego and I will include both paperwork helping patients, staff members and official meetings. Overall, I am passionate about a client-directed philosophy that puts the health needs of patients above the convenience of my organization. The current situation demands that healthcare practitioners build healthcare models in the needs of clients served rather than the customs of staff.