title: Preventing falls in assisted living: Results of a quality improvement pilot study.
abstract: Residents of assisted living (AL) communities are at high risk for falls, which result in negative outcomes and high health care costs. Adapting effective falls prevention programs for AL quality improvement (QI) has the potential to reduce falls, improve resident quality of life, and reduce costs. This project tested the feasibility and outcomes of an evidence-based multi-component QI program, the Assisted Living Falls Prevention and Monitoring Program (AL-FPMP). Resident posture and gait improved, likely due to exercise and/or physical therapy. Effective falls prevention QI programs can be implemented in AL, and are advised to (1) establish and maintain a falls team to create a culture focused on the reduction of falls risk; (2) teach staff to assess residents using the Morse Falls Scale to increase their awareness of residents' falls risk and improvement; and (3) modify existing exercise programs to address balance and lower body strength.
authors: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. Electronic address: Sheryl_Zimmerman@unc.edu.
authors: Sheryl
authors: S
authors: Zimmerman
authors: RTI International, USA.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Greene
authors: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors: Philip D
authors: PD
authors: Sloane
authors: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors: Madeline
authors: M
authors: Mitchell
authors: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Department of Allied Health Sciences, Division of Physical Therapy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Giuliani
authors: School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Nyrop
authors: RTI International, USA.
authors: Edith
authors: E
authors: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Assisted living; Exercise; Falls prevention; Function; Intervention; Medications; Outcomes; Quality improvement; Risk factors; Screening