Preventing Falls in Elderly Patients Timelisa Smith MSN-DE Herzing University NSG 660-7B Scholarly Practice Dr. Sheri Byrnes June 24, 2024

[Virtual Presenter] We provide valuable insights and practical solutions to help prevent falls and improve the well-being of elderly patients..

[Virtual Presenter] We will focus on preventing falls in elderly patients. Our mixed research study and two qualitative research studies will discuss answering my picot question. We will explore potential changes to implement after reviewing the findings. Additionally we will discuss areas of opportunity for future research next steps and conclude..

[Virtual Presenter] We conduct research on preventing falls in elderly patients. Falls are a significant issue that can have serious consequences for elderly patients. Identifying ways to prevent falls is important for patient safety. We implement our findings into clinical practice to improve patient safety and reduce the risk of falls in elderly patients..

[Audio] We will explore how we can decrease falls in elderly patients aged 65 and up using improved fall prevention programming versus traditional fall prevention programming over the course of a year. Our research findings will be presented on the next couple of slides..

[Audio] Our presentation will focus on Preventing Falls in Elderly Patients..

[Audio] The implementation of a multifactorial fall prevention program to address the reasons that patients fall including assessment of gait and balance fractures and osteoporosis management medication review exercise promotion vision and footwear correction physiotherapy and cardiovascular interventions has resulted in a significant reduction in falls among elderly patients. We appreciate your attention and look forward to discussing the program with you..

[Audio] In clinical practice there are fall prevention strategies currently in effect. However the number of falls still occurs annually and additional interventions are needed. Nurse education during patient discharge to prevent falls results in millions of falls annually. The goal is to empower the elderly through multifactorial interventions including medication management exercise promotion and many more strategies that further decrease patient falls. Alternative intervention strategies need to be explored that can be more effective in preventing falls. Studies have shown that interventions that include patient education exercise and medication management can be more effective in preventing falls compared to traditional fall prevention programs that focus solely on staff behaviors and ward risk minimization practices (Martin and others 2020). In summary while traditional fall prevention programs have their place alternative intervention strategies need to be considered for preventing falls in elderly patients..

[Audio] The multifactorial fall prevention program implemented in elderly patients resulted in a reduction in falls as demonstrated by the statistics. The research findings show that the program was effective in reducing falls among the elderly population. We believe that this program has the potential to improve the quality of life for elderly patients and their families..

[Audio] We recommend a yearly time frame for a multi-factorial fall prevention program. This includes an annual wellness exam and collaboration with multiple referral sources to optimize program elements. Adjustments to exercise regimens and bathroom modifications may be required to achieve fall prevention success. We recommend a yearly time frame for a multi-factorial fall prevention program. This includes an annual wellness exam and collaboration with multiple referral sources to optimize program elements. Adjustments to exercise regimens and bathroom modifications may be required to achieve fall prevention success..

[Audio] We will discuss recommendations for fall risk stratification assessment tools fractures or osteoporosis management multifactorial intervention medication review exercise physiotherapy referral environment modification vision footwear and cardiovascular interventions. Our findings show that these interventions are effective in preventing falls in elderly patients..

[Audio] Racine and others (2020) conducted a qualitative study to investigate the effectiveness of multifactorial fall risk assessments in reducing the rate of falls in older people. The study took place in community-based multifactorial fall risk assessment clinics and the results showed that multifactorial fall risk assessments were effective in reducing the rate of falls in older people. The study was found through a search in ProQuest for multifactorial fall risk prevention and qualitative study. The findings of this study provide important insights into the effectiveness of multifactorial fall risk assessments in preventing falls in elderly patients..

[Audio] Timelisa Smith and our presentation is on Preventing Falls in Elderly Patients. Our research identified facilitators and barriers for older adults at risk of falling. Self-efficacy was a significant barrier to preventing falls. However we found that providing tools and resources to help elderly individuals become more independent can greatly reduce the likelihood of falls. Exercise programs home modifications and other tools can support independence and reduce the risk of falls. We have developed a checklist that addresses multiple steps to reduce falls and can be adapted for use in both the home and facility settings. We recommend posting this checklist in a conspicuous location such as the refrigerator or near the patient’s bed or couch to help remind individuals of the steps they can take to prevent falls. Thank you for your attention and we look forward to continuing our work in preventing falls in elderly patients..

[Audio] Our research has shown that addressing multiple factors that contribute to falls is more effective than short education provided in primary care or at discharge. Collaboration among multiple individuals also results in success. We believe that transitioning to a single healthcare software during a hospital event by the attending nurse and every 6 months by the nurse or social worker if the individual is receiving home health services is the change needed to reduce the number of falls in the elderly population..

[Audio] Today we want to talk about the potential of digital devices like phones Fitbits and Apple Watches to help the elderly population stay healthy and prevent falls. Digital devices can be a valuable tool for elderly individuals who may forget or have difficulty remembering important information. For example a digital device can remind an elderly person to take medication that causes drowsiness at a specific time of day when they are most likely to be alert and able to safely take the medication. Additionally a digital device can remind them when to exercise and what type of exercises to complete helping them maintain their strength and balance. Digital devices can also remind them of appointments for eye exams and other wellness opportunities. However there are also areas of opportunity for future research in this area. It would be interesting to explore the effectiveness of different types of digital devices such as smartwatches versus phones in helping elderly individuals remember important information. Additionally it would be useful to investigate the potential of digital devices to track and monitor the progress of elderly individuals over time helping healthcare providers better understand their health and develop more effective treatment plans. Overall the use of digital devices as reminders for the elderly population has the potential to be a valuable tool in preventing falls and improving the health of elderly individuals..

[Audio] Our presentation on Preventing Falls in Elderly Patients is complete. As a next step we strongly advise taking our research to the appropriate committee at the workplace for consideration. This is vital for ensuring that our findings are implemented in an effective and sustainable manner. Moreover we suggest that a nurse attend nursing conferences to learn about implementing evidence-based research into clinical practice. These conferences can offer valuable insights and best practices that can greatly enhance care for elderly patients. By implementing these steps we believe that we can have a tremendous impact on the lives of elderly patients and help prevent falls..

[Audio] We propose adding interventions such as assessing gait and balance managing fractures and osteoporosis conducting a medication review promoting exercise correcting vision and footwear physiotherapy cardiovascular interventions and working more effectively to reduce falls. We also suggest exploring the use of a digital component to further reduce falls. We encourage all nurses to attend continuing education to implement evidence-based practices to prevent falls in elderly patients..

[Audio] Discuss the reasons why older adults attend multifactorial falls risk assessments and the barriers and facilitators to engaging in falls prevention. Present a table of clinical practice guidelines on fall prevention and management for older adults. Discuss the implementation of a Safe Recovery fall prevention program. Provide insights and recommendations for healthcare providers and policymakers to improve falls prevention in elderly patients..

[Audio] As Timelisa Smith I would like to express my gratitude to the audience for their time and engagement. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (mailto:[email protected])..