Demographic Comparisons of Self-Reported Fall Risk Factors Among Older Adults Attending Outpatient Rehabilitation.

Purpose: Identify the prevalence and prevalence differences of fall risk factors by sex, clinic rurality, and race/ethnicity among older adults (≥65 years old) receiving outpatient rehabilitation. Patients and Methods: Our secondary analysis used Electronic Health Record data of 108,751 older adults attending outpatient rehabilitation (2018-2022) within a large health system across 7 states and completed the Stay Independent Questionnaire. The mean age was 73.3 (±6.36), 58.1% were female, 84.3% were non-Hispanic White, and 88.8% attended an urban clinic. Fall risks were identified via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Stay Independent Questionnaire. Results: Older adults had a high prevalence of fall risks (44.3%), including history of falls (34.9%). The most prevalent fall-risk factors were impaired strength, gait, and balance. Compared to males, females had a higher prevalence of reporting a fall (4.3%), a fall with injury (9.9%), worrying about falling 9.1%), rushing to the toilet (8.5%), trouble stepping onto a curb (8.4%), taking medicine for sleep or mood (6.0%), feeling sad or depressed (5.3%), and feeling unsteady (4.6%). Males reported a higher prevalence of losing feeling in feet (9.4%), ≥1 fall in the past year (8.1%), and using hands to stand up (4.4%). Compared to White older adults, Native American/Alaska Natives had the highest prevalence of fall history (43.8%), Hispanics had the highest prevalence of falls with injury (56.1%), and Hispanics and Blacks had a higher prevalence of reporting 11/12 Stay Independent Questionnaire risk factors. Conclusion: Older adults receiving outpatient rehabilitation have a high prevalence of fall risks, including falls and difficulties with strength, balance, or gait. Findings indicate that rehabilitation providers should perform screenings for these impairments, including incontinence and medication among females, loss of feeling in the feet among males, and all Stay Independent Questionnaire -related fall risk factors among Native American/Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and Blacks.

Integrating STEADI for Falls Prevention in Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinics: An Outcomes Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework was used to describe the implementation of the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) Initiative (2018-2021) for screening and assessing all older adults ≥65 years for falls risk across 34 outpatient rehabilitation clinics within a large health system. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We described the Implementation process and strategies. Using Electronic Health Records (EHRs), we identified Reach, Adoption, and Maintenance of screenings and physical assessments to identify fall risk among older adults. RESULTS: STEADI Implementation strategies included health system mandates, EHR revisions, email instructions, educational sessions and resources, clinical leads and champions, and chart audits. Reach: 76.4% (50,023) had a completed screening, and 44.1% screened at risk for falls. Adoption: Clinic-level adoption varied, with most performing screenings. Profession-level adoption was highest for physical therapists (PTs; 94.2% initiated, 80.6% completed) and lowest for speech-language pathologists (SLPs; 79.8% initiated, 55.9% completed). Reach and Adoption of functional outcomes measures (FOM): PTs completed an FOM on 59.5% of at-risk patients, occupational therapists on 11.6%, and SLPs on 7.9%. Maintenance: All measures declined 1%-10% annually between 2018 and 2021. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: STEADI screening and FOMs were implemented systemwide in 34 outpatient rehabilitation clinics, reaching over 50,000 older adults. Screening adoption rates varied by clinic. PTs had the highest adoption rate. All adoption rates declined over time. Future research should consider an implementation science approach with input from key partners before implementation to identify barriers and develop strategies to support STEADI in outpatient rehabilitation.

American Geriatrics Society response to the World Falls Guidelines.

Falls are a major cause of preventable death, injury, and reduced independence in adults aged 65 years and older. The American Geriatrics Society and British Geriatrics Society (AGS/BGS) published a guideline in 2001, revised in 2011, addressing common risk factors for falls and providing recommendations to reduce fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. In 2022, the World Falls Guidelines (WFG) Task Force created updated, globally oriented fall prevention risk stratification, assessment, management, and interventions for older adults. Our objective was to briefly summarize the new WFG, compare them to the AGS/BGS guideline, and offer suggestions for implementation in the United States. We reviewed 11 of the 12 WFG topics related to community-dwelling older adults and agree with several additions to the prior AGS/BGS guideline, including assessment and intervention for hearing impairment and concern for falling, assessment and individualized exercises for older adults with cognitive impairment, and performing a standardized assessment such as STOPPFall before prescribing a medication that could potentially increase fall risk. Notable areas of difference include: (1) AGS continues to recommend screening all patients aged 65+ annually for falls, rather than just those with a history of falls or through opportunistic case finding; (2) AGS recommends continued use of the Timed Up and Go as a gait assessment, rather than relying on gait speed; and (3) AGS recommends clinical judgment on whether or not to check an ECG for those at risk for falling. Our review and translation of the WFG for a US audience offers guidance for healthcare and other providers and teams to reduce fall risk in older adults.

The Intersection of Falls and Dementia in Primary Care: Evaluation and Management Considerations.

A large body of research has addressed the assessment and management of fall risk among community-dwelling older adults. Persons with dementia are at higher risk for falls and fall-related injuries, yet less is known about effective strategies for reducing falls and injuries among those with dementia. Falls and dementia are regularly considered to be discrete conditions and are often managed separately. Increasing evidence shows that these conditions frequently co-occur, and one may precede the other. This article explores the relationship between falls and dementia, including the importance of rehabilitation strategies for reducing fall risk in these individuals.