Prevention Program Regarding Falls among Older Adults at Geriatrics Homes

Abstract

Context: Older adults are vulnerable to falls that result in injury and disability, making fall prevention a national priority.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a fall prevention program on older adults' knowledge, practices, and elder wellbeing regarding falls.

Methods: A quasi-experimental (single group pre/post-test design) was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Four geriatric homes at the North district, Cairo governorate were included in the study. The systematic random sample composed of 50 older adults were included in this study. The pre-designed interviewing questionnaire was utilized to collect data regarding socio-demographic characteristics to assess age, sex, marital status of the older adult, and to assess the presence of chronic illness, medication, frequency of falling, and hospitalization. This questionnaire also assesses the knowledge of older adults regarding meaning, causes, protective measures, complications, and a safe environment. Besides, it assesses the reported practices of older adults regarding their health maintenance measures, nutrition, physical activity, and safe home environment. Older adult wellbeing scales developed to assess older adult physical, social, and psychological wellbeing.  An environmental safety checklist used to assess the safety of the geriatric home environment.

Results: Revealed that more than two-thirds of older adults aged ≥ 75 years more than half of them experienced falling two times during the past two years, there was a highly statistically significant difference in older adults' total knowledge pre and post prevention program implementation P<0.001. Moreover, there was a highly statistically significant difference between total older adult reported practices pre and post prevention program implementation P<0.001. There was statistically significant improvement related to the physical, social, and psychological wellbeing of older adult pre and post-program implementation. There was a statistically significant correlation between the older adult educational level and their knowledge and practices (p<0.05).

Conclusion Application of the prevention program has a positive effect on the studied older adults' knowledge, reported practices, and their wellbeing regarding fall prevention at geriatric homes. The current study recommended that prevention programs should be applied in all geriatric homes to prevent and control falls among older adults.