title: Fall Prevention for Older Adults Receiving Home Healthcare.
abstract: Falls pose a significant risk for community-dwelling older adults. Fall-related injuries increase healthcare costs related to hospitalization, diagnostic procedures, and/or surgeries. This article describes a quality improvement project to reduce falls in older adults receiving home healthcare services. The fall prevention program incorporated best practices for fall reduction, including fall risk assessment, medication review/management, home hazard and safety assessment, staff and patient fall prevention education, and an individualized home-based exercise program. The program was implemented and evaluated during a 6-month time frame. Fewer falls occurred post implementation of the falls prevention program with no major injuries.
authors.affiliation: Sarah Bamgbade, MSN, RN, is a DNP Student, College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama. Valorie Dearmon, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is an Associate Professor and Chair, Adult Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bamgbade
authors.forename: Valorie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dearmon
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment