title: Musculoskeletal safety for older adults in the workplace: review of current best practice evidence.
abstract: Age-associated physical musculoskeletal alterations increase elder adults' (age 55 and older) risk for injury. Research has demonstrated that on-the-job injuries result in increased absenteeism, and fatalities are more common for the elder adult population. Older adults aged above 65 years comprise the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, growing from 40.2 million in 2010 to 88.5 million projected by 2050; this population shift will generate challenges for occupational health nurses providing care for older workers. A paucity of evidence-based "best practices" exists in which occupational health nurses can assess the physical status of older workers, evaluate their risk for age-related musculoskeletal injuries, and educate these workers on injury prevention. This article provides a critical synthesis of research on age-related physical and cognitive changes and their impact on safety, providing "best practice" evidence for occupational health nurses to examine and apply.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University School of Nursing ndelloi@rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delloiacono
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D017751:Safety Management
keywords: age-related changes; international aging workforce; safety