Overall, ICT fall interventions improved fall efficacy but not cognitive function. For quality of life (QOL), mixed results were found depending on the assessment tools.
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This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of modifying the home environment on falls in older adults with dementia. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the type, nature and effectiveness of interventions undertaken to reduce falls with community-dwelling adults with intellectual disability and the quality of this evidence. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study identified the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors of patients who experience early inpatient falls (within 48 hours of admission). To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Examines the causal associations of tobacco and alcohol consumption on frailty and falls. Findings demonstrate that tobacco use, but not alcohol drinking, significantly increases the risk of frailty and falling. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This article aims to enable readers to understand the environmental risks in different care settings and how age-related changes can affect risk. It also aims to ensure that readers are aware of how environmental modifications can reduce risk.
To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
To deliver safe and high-quality care, clinical data on nursing-sensitive indicators and transparency are needed. A comprehensive narrative review of the literature was conducted to describe the prevalence and incidence of nursing-sensitive indicators, namely, falls, incontinence, malnutrition, pain, pressure injury and restraints in home care. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The present study aimed to identify signs of frequent fall-related body dysfunction (depression/cognition) as exhibited in daily activities among older adults. The role of fall risk in mediating body dysfunction and daily activities was also explored. To read the full article, choose “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Why you should read this article:
To identify medicines that can precipitate or cause falls, as well as those that can increase the risk of fall-related injuries
To understand the importance of including medication reviews as part of falls prevention strategies
To consider actions you could take in your practice to prevent medicines-related falls in older people
To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Falls among older people with diabetes mellitus (DM) are a major health concern. Preventive measures can be implemented to reduce the likelihood of falls. The aim of this study was to determine the factors most strongly associated with falls in older people living with DM who receive at-home care support services. This will inform home-visiting nurses to prioritise falls prevention strategies in the care of clients who are at high risk of falls. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has several enduring effects that can lead to further harm and/or lower quality of life. These effects include falling and body pain, neither of which have been fully explored. This study aims to examine the risk factors associated with falling and potential causes of body pain in a post-GBS population. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
To provide a comprehensive collection of evidence on the effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent falls and support clinical decision‐making.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
A thermal sensor alarm system that identifies older patients who may be about to fall out of bed is being trialled at a trust in England. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Open access. Conducting post-fall huddles is considered an integral component of a fall-risk-reduction program. However, there is no evidence linking post-fall huddles to patient outcomes or perceptions of teamwork and safety culture. The purpose of this study is to determine associations between conducting post-fall huddles and repeat fall rates and between post-fall huddle participation and perceptions of teamwork and safety culture.
To examine the association between hearing aids (HAs) and time to diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) or dementia, anxiety or depression, and injurious falls among adults, aged 66 years and older, within 3 years of hearing loss (HL) diagnosis.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
People with intellectual disability (ID) experience age‐related changes earlier in life, and as such, falls among people with ID are of serious concern. Falls can cause injury and consequently reduce quality of life. Limited studies have investigated the incidence of falls among people with ID and the associated risk factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of falls and risk factors for falling in people with ID living in the community.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Clinical manager Lindsay Rees’s initiative has reduced falls among care home residents without curbing their activities by embracing positive risk
An individual falls risk factor assessment and care plan introduced by Lindsay Rees (pictured) reduced the number of falls in a pilot project and helped her win the Nursing Older People category of the RCNi Nurse Awards 2019. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Accidents are among the leading preventable causes of death, serious injury and long-term disability, while falls are the leading accident-related cause of death and hospital admission among older people. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, University of Southampton, discusses polices and strategies used by nurses to minimise patient falls in hospital. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Letter. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Open access. Vitamin K is thought to be involved in both bone health and maintenance of neuromuscular function. We tested the effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on postural sway, falls, healthcare costs, and indices of physical function in older people at risk of falls.
A smaller social network is associated with worse health‐related outcomes in older people. We examined the impact of social connections and social support on the risk of injurious fall and on fall‐related functional decline and mortality.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Older adults recently discharged from the hospital are known to be at risk of functional decline and falls. This study evaluated the effect of a tailored education program provided in the hospital on older adult engagement in fall prevention strategies within 6 months after hospital discharge.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Balance training using unstable support surfaces is widely used in clinics and research and can reduce the risk of falls in older people. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an exercise programme using a foam bead bag on older adults' ability to balance and the strength of their lower extremities and compare the effect with no exercise and foam pad exercise using the same programme. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
At least one third of people over the age of 65 living in the community fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of death from accidental injury worldwide. Exercise routines can reduce the number of falls in older people, however, as long as they include balance and functional training. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
EBM Verdict on: effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2018;6(11):847–58. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30265-1.
Current evidence does not justify routinely recommending vitamin D supplements to prevent fractures or falls in adults. Further evidence is unlikely to affect this result and guidelines should be amended to reflect this new evidence. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Injuries caused by falling are a major health concern among older population. For older people, falls are the leading cause of head injuries; especially, persons with cognitive disorders have an increased risk of falling. Objective: To compare the incidence of head injury and traumatic brain injury (TBI) among persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with persons without AD. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
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NHS Long Term Plan calls for acceleration towards same-day emergency care for older people. Whether it is in hospital or the community, the NHS Long Term Plan places older people at the heart of the new vision for the health service. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
What you need to know:
>Evidence suggests that environmental interventions can prevent falls in older people at high risk of falls, but they have little or no benefit in people at low risk
>Offer environmental assessment and modification led by an occupational therapist to people over 65 who have had a fall in the past year, use a mobility aid, need assistance with any activities of daily living, take psychoactive medications, or are concerned about falling
>Environmental assessment and modification encompasses a comprehensive, validated functional assessment of the individual in their home environment, a joint problem solving approach, and follow-up as required. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
How should we better prevent falls among older people? This may not seem the most pressing issue for doctors, but, as reported this week, falls are a leading cause of morbidity and death in people aged over 75, and the costs to health and social care are growing as the population ages. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Falls are common among stroke survivors but many are not taught how to get up again. A technique from an association called Action for Rehabilitation Following Neurological Injury addresses this problem. We investigated the feasibility and safety of teaching this technique to stroke survivors. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Objective To explore the experiences of healthcare professionals working in falls prevention and memory assessment services in providing assessments and interventions for falls risk reduction in people with dementia. Open Access Article
Digital checks that can prevent dementia and falls in older people, and save lives through diagnosis of sepsis, are among a range of tools being made available in hospitals across the country, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Peripheral neuropathy is a common diabetes complication that can increase fall risk. Regarding fall risk, the impact of pain management using tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) or γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogs is unclear because these medications can also cause falls. This study investigates the impact of these drugs on fall and fracture risk in older diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Polypharmacy, defined as the use of five or more medications, has been repeatedly linked to fall incidence, and recently it was cross‐sectionally associated with gait disturbances. Our objectives were to evaluate cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between polypharmacy and gait performance in a well‐established clinic‐based cohort study. We also assessed whether gait impairments could mediate associations between number of medications and fall incidence.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
A simulation-based training course was designed to support the development of nurses’ skills in falls assessment and prevention. National guidance on falls risk assessment and prevention was used to develop the course content. The course enabled participants to practise real-life scenarios in a safe environment, reflect on their performance and receive feedback from their peers. The post-course evaluations showed positive feedback with all the nurses reporting benefit from this style of learning. They all thought their participation would have a significant effect on their clinical practice and aid their ability to care for patients who had fallen. On an organisational level, the trust has seen an 11% reduction in the number of falls since the training was introduced in 2016. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Objective: To test whether rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) training reduces the number of falls in Parkinson's disease patients with a history of frequent falls. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
This study compared hip fracture rates and health outcomes of older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) to the community. The RACF resident age-standardised hospitalisation rate was five times higher than the community rate and declining. RACF residents experience overall worse health outcomes and survival post-hip fracture.
We've added 10 new Be Aware updates following your suggestions:
Musculoskeletal ; Osteoporosis ; Nutrition and obesity ; Falls ; HR ; Research Methods ; Information Governance ; Bladder, bowel and pelvic healthcare ; Rheumatology ; Medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (circulated email)
Conclusion: Positive effects were found on aspects of QoL and fall incidents in the bathroom. The lower caregiver appreciation of work circumstances in the AHT group confirms the importance of intensive support and guidance of personnel during the implementation of AHT. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
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Implications for practice and research
> Multifactorial interventions may reduce fall rates in older people, whereas multiple component interventions may reduce risk of and rates of falls.However, evidence is low quality, so findings have limited implications to practice.
> Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of more specific intervention strategies, particularly those related to exercise and adherence to interventional regimes. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Implications for practice and research
> Fear of falling (FOF) is common, even in the absence of recent falls. Health professionals should assess older people who present with falls, near falls or unsteady gait for the presence of FOF, and if identified, exercise or cognitive–behavioural intervention should be considered.
> Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to address FOF on preventing or minimising development of incident disability. Free Article
To explore the experiences of patients of a falls service provided by a community physiotherapy team to elderly, housebound people who have fallen. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details
An innovative new tool is helping to ensure patient safety at UHNM. PACE (Prevent, Assess, Call-bell, Environment) is a new risk assessment system designed to reduce the likelihood of falls amongst haemodialysis patients. It was developed by Quality Nurse Lisa Ellis and Link Nurse Jo Verdin, who met with staff to talk about why issues may arise and how patient safety can be enhanced.
To describe and interpret how older adults who have returned home to recover from a hip fracture cope with life in a health promoting perspective.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Numerous sarcopenia definitions are not associated with increased falls-related hospitalization risk over 5 years to 9.5 years in older community-dwelling Australian women. Measures of muscle strength and physical function, but not appendicular lean mass (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) may help discriminate the risk of falls-related hospitalization. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
Open access. Falls are common among older people with intellectual disability (ID) and are also a major contributor to injuries in this population. Yet, fall characteristics have only been sparsely studied, and the results are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to investigate type of falls, places where they occurred and activities that caused them, as well as health outcomes and health utilisation patterns after falls, among older people with ID in comparison with their age peers in the general population.
A joint initiative between Mersey Care, Sefton Council and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service aims to help prevent falls in older people and avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital.
People in South Sefton area who have fallen, are at risk of falling or fear falling can now benefit from a programme of educational sessions, exercise and assistance to make their homes safer.
The self-management fall prevention program is feasible and safe in a community-dwelling and home for the aged population, making it worthwhile to further explore self-management fall-prevention studies. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
Results: Participants were positive about the product’s potential utility and impact upon confidence in moving around. However, many participants held highly personal perceptions of their vulnerability and need, and expressed concerns about the esthetics and practicality of the accompanying underwear. Participants highlighted potential challenges from poor mobile connectivity, and expressed concerns about product cost. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
falls can negatively affect patients, resulting in loss of independence and functional decline and have substantial healthcare costs. Hospitals are a high-risk falls environment and regularly introduce, but seldom evaluate, policies to reduce inpatient falls. This study evaluated whether introducing portable nursing stations in ward bays to maximise nurse–patient contact time reduced inpatient falls.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
To develop and validate a predictive model for falls in Brazilian hospitalized adult clinical and surgical patients, assessing intrinsic (i.e. patient‐related) and extrinsic factors (i.e. care process‐related).. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Balance alterations are one of the main problems in people with intellectual disabilities (ID), increasing their risk of falls and impacting their life.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Implications for practice and research
Fear of falling (FOF) is common, even in the absence of recent falls. Health professionals should assess older people who present with falls, near falls or unsteady gait for the presence of FOF, and if identified, exercise or cognitive–behavioural intervention should be considered.
Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to address FOF on preventing or minimising development of incident disability. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details
Open access. To evaluate the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) use and risk of fractures in older adults.
Falls are the number one reason older people are taken to the emergency department in a hospital. Most falls don’t cause serious injury but they can leave you distressed. The good news is that there are lots of things you can do to stay steady on your feet.