Trends in Geospatial Drivers of Fall-Related Hospitalizations and Asset Mapping of Fall Prevention Interventions for Vulnerable Older Adults. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Towne, Samuel D.; Smith, Matthew Lee; Xu, Minjie; Lee, Sungmin; Sharma, Sushma; Smith, Don; Li, Yajuan; Fucci, Yasmin; Ory, Marcia G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 32:Number 5/6(2020)
• Page Start: 328
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: falls -- health policy -- public policy -- health; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264318822381
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: Given that one in four older adults suffer potentially preventable falls annually, we aimed to identify areas with (a) delivery gaps of evidence-based programs (EBPs) targeting fall prevention among older adults, namely A Matter of Balance (AMOB), and (b) high rates of fall-related hospitalizations—hotspots.Method: Analyses included multiple geospatially linked datasets.Results: EBPs were delivered ≥1 time in 84 counties in 2012 and 90 counties in 2014. Factors associated with EPB delivery gaps (absence; p <.05) included high-density older adult areas, non-fall-related hospitalization hotspots, lower population density, nonmetropolitan areas, high-density Hispanic adult areas, and areas with limited access to home health care agencies. Hotspots for fall-related hospitalization numbered 64 in 2012 and 62 in 2014. Factors associated with hotspots included low-density older adult areas, having AMOB delivered ≥1 time annually, high population density, and high-density Hispanic adult areas.Discussion: In resource-finite settings (e.g., the aging services sector), identifying high priority areas allows for precise allocation of limited resources.