Interventions to reduce fall risk among older adults Part I

1. Interventions to reduce fall risk among older adults Part I Siobhan McMahon RN GNP The College of St. Scholastica St. Mary’s Duluth Clinic, Elder Care The Arrowhead Agency on Aging

2. Objectives • Review common risk factors of falls • Assess older adults for presence of fall risk factors • Review Interventions that have been proven to reduce fall risk • Implement additional fall-preventive interventions in patient population you serve.

4. Falls are a significant cause of injury, disability and death among older adult populations.

5. Falls are a significant cause of injury, disability and death among older adult populations.

6. Impact of falls • 20-30% of those who fall sustain injury • 32% of those with fall related injury require assistance with ADL(s) • Fear of falling • Decreased physical activity • Decreased social activity

7. Impact of falls • Cost in 2000 • $179 million (fatal falls) • $19.3 billion (non fatal injurious falls) • Projected cost in 2020 • $43.8 billion annually

8. Causes and Risks of Falls WHO, 2008

9. Risk Factors Environmental • Poor building design* • Slippery floors and stairs* • Loose Rugs* • Insufficient lighting* • Cracked or uneven sidewalks* WHO, 2008

10. Risk Factors Biological • Muscle Weakness* • Gait Changes* • Vision Impairment (2.5)* • History of previous fall (3.0) • Age (greater than 80) • Gender WHO, 2008

11. Risk Factors Behavioral • Multiple medication use* • Use of medication that acts on central nervous system* • Lack of exercise* • Inappropriate footwear* WHO, 2008

12. Risk Factors Socioeconomic • Inadequate housing • Lack of social interaction* • Lack of community resources* • Limited access to health and social services* WHO, 2008

13. Causes and Risks of Falls Risk factors are interactive 1 factor raises risk 27 % 4 factors raise risk 78% Tinneti, Speechley, & Ginter (1998) WHO, 2008

15. Case Study Jane Doe Recently admitted to the hospital via the ER after a fall. She had planned to get the morning paper, located at the dining room table across the room. She lost her balance as she moved from the couch to the table and fell. She did not lose consciousness but sustained a hip fracture and many bruises.

16. Screening • Have you had 2 or more falls in the prior 12 months? • Are you here because of a recent (acute) fall? • Have you noticed any difficulty or changes with your walking or balance?

17. History of 1 fall in last year • Evaluate Gait and Balance • Timed Up and Go • Berg Balance Scale • Performance Oriented mobility assessment

18. Answers YES to any of the screening questions • History of falls • Medication review • Gait, balance and mobility • Visual Acuity • Other neurological impairments • Muscle strength • Heart Rate and Rhythm • Feet and foot-ware • Environmental hazards

19. Comprehensive Assessment History of falls • Frequency of fall • Symptoms at the time of fall • Previous injuries of fall sequelae

20. Comprehensive Assessment: Medication Review • Anticonvulsants (e.g., dilantin) • Antipsychotics (e.g. risperdal, seroquel, haldol) • Anxiolytic (e.g. xanex, ativan, klonipin) • Antiarrhythmics (procan, rhythmol, dig) • Anti-depressant (e.g., prozac, celexa) • Hypnotics (e.g. diphenydramine/ benadryl) • Anti-vertigo or motion sickness (e.g. meclizine, dramamine) • Pain relieving (e.g. darvocet, percocet) 4 or more medications

21. Comprehensive assessment • Gait, balance and mobility (Timed Get up and Go) • Hesitant start ? • Broad based ? • Path Deviation ? • Heels not clearing floor ? • Heels do not clear other foot ? • Cannot speed up without losing balance? • Turning difficulties? • Gait symmetry? • Sitting down in a chair? • Standing up from a chair?

22. Timed Get up and Go • Person being screened starts in a seated position. • Wearing sensory aids (e.g., glasses) • Using assistive devices (e.g., walker, cane) • Place a visible object 8 feet away from the person being screened. • Ask the person being screened to get up and walk around or to walk the object 8 feet away (and then turn around) , and sit back down. Walking time greater than 8.5 seconds or observations of abnormal gait or balance during test are associated with fall risk among community dwelling older adults.

23. Vision History of vision impairment? Regular visits to the ophthalmologist? Vision aids? Functional vision? (e.g., able to read magazine print; signs? ) Visual acuity (Snellen) Comprehensive Assessment

24. Additional neurological exam • Cognitive screen (mini cog) • Cranial Nerves • LE peripheral nerves • Proprioception • Reflexes • Rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor • Coordination Comprehensive assessment

25. Comprehensive Assessment Muscle strength • Quad strength • Using arms/ maneuvers to get out of chair? • Chair rise (5 chair rises not using hands normally less than 30 seconds; average is 11.5s) • Range of motion

26. Vital Signs Heart Rate Heart Rhythm Blood Pressure Orthostatic Blood Pressure Vital Signs

27. Feet and Foot-ware • Sensation • Skin/Nails • Circulation • Shoes (fit, soles, comfort ?) • Slippers (non-skid ?) Feet and Foot-ware

28. Apartment • Clutter ? • Loose Cords? • Loose Rugs? • Adequate lighting? EnvironmentalSafety

29. Case Study Jane Doe Recently admitted to the hospital via the ER after a fall. She had planned to get the morning paper, located at the dining room table across the room. She lost her balance as she moved from the couch to the table and fell. She did not lose consciousness but sustained a hip fracture and many bruises.

30. Case Study History • Lives in assisted living apartment; recently moved from a home she has owned for 40 years • Widowed one year ago • 2 daughters; one in Duluth and another living in the cities; both very supportive • Loves to shop, visit with friends, garden, walks (did) daily.

31. Case Study Jane Doe Description of the Fall: • Early am immediately moving from couch to table • Wearing slippers • Thinks she may have slipped and then was unable to break her fall • No dizziness, vertigo, black out

32. Case Study: Jane Doe Medications Function • Lisinopril 10mg • ASA 81 mg • Multi vitamin daily • Tylenol PM 2 q HS • Independent with ADLs • Independent with most IADLS (daughter helps with medications and bills) • Continent • Sleep pattern is interrupted by repeated thoughts and memories about her husband (she misses him) • Use to shop a lot and exercise every day but now feeling too tired for that lately

33. Case Study Physical Exam • BP laying down 122/80 • BP sitting up 130/70 • BP standing 118/80 • Heart rate 72 and regular • CN II-XII grossly intact • No bradykinesia, tremor or rigidity • Speech is clear • Sensation intact • Gait is slow (healing hip fx) • TUG: NA (healing hip fx) • Chair stand (unable) • Functional range of motion • Mini cog: 3/3 recall; clock draw perfect • Geriatric Depression Score • 8/15

34. What is your assessment? • Name some of the fall risk factors that Jane Has • Would your evaluation in the Hospital be different for the NH or clinic? • How will you communicate your assessment on the record?

35. Jane Doe Falls Risk factors include : grief related change in sleep and physical activity patterns de-conditioning and weakness use of Benadryl for sleep history of falls

36. Conclusions • Individualize assessments in accordance with situation. • Integrate screening and assessment into your everyday work. • Use your resources to help with assessment. • If you find abnormalities or confusing aspects of your assessment, collaborate and consult with family and other members of the IDT PT/ OT Pharm D MD RN

37. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010a). Web-based injury statistics query and reporting system (WISQARS) [online]. NCIPC, CDC (producer). Retrieved July 10, 2009, from www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010b). Wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research, DATA2010 the Healthy People 2010 database; focus area: 22-physical activity and fitness. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://wonder.cdc.gov/scripts/broker.exe Gillespie, L. D., Robertson, M. C., Gillespie, W. J., Lamb, S. E., Gates, S., Cumming R. G., et al. (2009). Preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, Art. No.: CD007146. DOI: 10.1002/14651858CD007146.pub2. McInnes, E., & Askie, L. (2004). Evidence review on older people’s views and experiences of falls prevention strategies. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 1(1), 20-37. Rubenstein, L. Z. (2006). Falls in older people: Epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention. Age and Ageing, 35(Suppl. 2), ii37-ii41. Sleet, D. A., Moffett, D. B., & Stevens, J. (2008). CDC’s research portfolio in older adult fall prevention: A review of progress, 1985-2005, and future research directions. Journal of Safety Research, 39, 259-267. Taylor, A. H., Cable, N. T., Faulkner, G., Hillsdon, M., Narici, M., & Van DerBij, A. K. (2004). Physical activity and older adults: a review of health benefits and the effectiveness of interventions. Journal of Sports Sciences, 22(8), 703-725. Yardley, L., & Smith, H. (2007a). A prospective study of the relationship between feared consequences of falling and avoidance of activity in community living older people. The Gerontologist, 42(1), 17-23. World Health Organization. (2008). WHO global report on falls prevention in older age. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241563536_eng.pdf