Fall Reduction

This article in The New England Journal of Medicine focuses on the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and fracture reduction.

This Centers for Disease Control website includes expert commentary, facts, news releases, resources and tools (e.g., STEADI for providers) for health care providers and individuals.

Published in the Journals of Gerentology, this article features a study to determine the effect of an antidepressant prescription change on fall risk.

This video provides an example of an ineffective post-fall huddle.

This video provides an example of an ideal post-fall huddle.

In a randomized clinical trial involving 670 adults 70 years or older with a history of falls or impaired mobility, the therapeutic tai ji quan (Tai Chi) intervention effectively reduced falls by 58% compared with the stretching exercise (control intervention) and by 31% compared with a multi-modal exercise intervention.

A study in 14 nursing homes reported in The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine found that hip protectors were worn in 60% of falls, and the risk of hip fracture was reduced by nearly threefold by wearing a hip protector at the time of falling.

TMF Health Quality Institute, in conjunction with the University of Nebraska, developed this document to help facilities document the incident of a fall and begin the root cause analysis by use of a team huddle.

This video describes the benefits of hip protectors based on a study in 14 nursing homes. The study found that hip protectors were worn in 60% of falls, and the risk of hip fracture was reduced by nearly threefold by wearing a hip protector at the time of falling. (video time 4:39)

Published in the 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, this study found that “Elderly women on long‐term PPI therapy, already at a high risk of falling, doubled their 5‐year risk of a injurious fall or fracture‐related hospitalization, while in a second younger group increased the 9‐month self‐reported falls risk by 57%.” Read the full article here.

This Aug. 17, 2023, recording explores how assessing fall risks and improving activities of daily living (ADL) performance can prevent emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions. TMF Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organization specialists discuss appropriate interventions along with creative strategies that nursing homes can apply right away.

Watch this Oct. 17, 2024, Nursing Home Connect webinar recording to learn about evidence-based recommendations, tools and resources to help with the prevention of falls by decreasing the number of antipsychotics, antianxiety and hypnotic medications for nursing home residents.

This document supports and guides the nursing home huddle facilitator in the use of the Fall Assessment and Huddle tool.

This toolkit, prepared for the Commonwealth Fund in collaboration with the Hartford Foundation, provides information on non-pharmacological approaches that are effective in reducing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia exhibited by persons residing in nursing homes.

Learn how Wood-Lawn Heights Skilled Nursing Facility reduced falls 42% after implementing a quality improvement program that focused on falls prevention.

The goal of this Consensus Statement is to help primary care practitioners achieve adequate vitamin D intake from all sources in their older patients, with the goal of reducing falls and fall-related injuries.

This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative can be used to help reduce fall risk among older residents.

This document from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides suggestions for incorporating Tai Chi principles into your facility's care program. These principles specifically target preventing falls in older people.