Falls are the foremost safety issue facing adults age 65 and older and the leading cause of injury-related deaths. No matter their living situation, older adults are at risk for falls and associated injuries. In 2005, more than 15,800 deaths in adults 65 years and older were caused by fall-related injuries; and almost 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls (source: Centers for Disease Control). In monetary terms, the total direct cost for falls among older adults was about $19 billion (in 2000) and it continues to increase annually.
Studies show that the most effective fall reduction programs are proactive in educating older adults on their fall risk factors and providing practical interventions to address those risks. SAFE-TI: A Falls Reduction Program developed by Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging and based on research and evidence is a comprehensive fall reduction program using Specific Assessment of Falls and Effective Therapeutic Interventions (SAFE-TI). The program provides the knowledge and tools needed to implement a comprehensive approach to fall reduction in the home or in senior living communities.
SAFE-TI is designed for both senior living and home health care providers. The webinars can be taken individually ($95) or as a three webinar series ( $250 for three). The goal of SAFE-TI is to reduce falls among older adults living at home or in senior living communities.
Specific aims of SAFE-TI include:
- Reducing the number of falls among older adults no matter their living situation
- Increasing health-care providers’ knowledge of fall risks, fall risk assessment, and interventions to decrease fall-related injury in older adults
- Increasing older adults knowledge about their fall risks and fall prevention
- Encouraging increased physical activity levels among older adults
All webinars will be held from 11:00 a.m.-noon (CT). If you would like to sign up for any these webinars or have any questions about the program, contact Louise Lyons at 847.492.7433 or llyons@matherlifeways.com. Specific dates and topics are outlined below:
Webinar 1: Prone to Falls June 9
This webinar provides specific information on why older adults are prone to or at-risk for falling. Factors that increase older adults risk for falling are discussed including: age-related changes in structure and function, disease processes, and medications.
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Discuss the scope of the problem of falls
- Describe the consequences of falls
- Discuss how the aging process and diseases seen in older adults contribute to falls
- Identify interventions to reduce the incidence of falls
Webinar 2: Tools/Assessments June 16
This webinar introduces participants to the SAFE-TI Program toolkit and focuses on increasing awareness of the most common fall risk factors, as well as outlines individualized fall reduction interventions. Participants will learn how to use the risk assessment tool, other tools in the toolkit (e.g., the assessment questionnaire with scoring, home safety checklist, risk factor intervention charts), and how to plan fall reduction strategies using the Fall Reduction Flow Chart.
Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand how to use the tools in the toolkit
- Complete a fall risk assessment
- Use the risk interventions to develop a plan of care
Webinar 3: Tracking & Evaluating Outcomes June 23
Key to evaluating the success of a fall reduction program is an analysis of fall events and associated injuries. This webinar outlines the evaluation process of a fall reduction program including: using various methods for tracking fall incidents; applying Root Cause Analysis to examine serious fall related injuries; and developing a Multidisciplinary Fall Safety Committee for senior living communities,
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Discuss tracking fall data
- Calculate fall and injury rates
- Describe the Root Cause Analysis process
- Understand the role of the Multidisciplinary Fall Safety Committee in senior living communities
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