Feasibility study of student-led fall prevention care management: Reducing fall risks in assisted living facilities. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kiyoshi-Teo, Hiroko; McKinley-Yoder, Claire; Ochoa-Cosler, Olivia; Lemon, Erin; Stoyles, Sydnee; Tadesse, Ruth; McGuire, Julie; Lee, David S. H.
• Is Part Of: Gerontology & geriatrics education. Volume 44:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 74
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Fall prevention -- care management -- assisted living -- students; Geriatrics -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 362.6
• DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2021.1969387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0270-1960

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Falls are common in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of student-led Fall Prevention Care Management (FPCM) on reducing fall risks in ALFs. Residents who were age ≥65, had a fall in the previous year Or considered high fall risk at the facility, and who had a MoCA cognition score>15 were enrolled. The FPCM interventions were semi-structured to facilitate students' learning while addressing participants' unique fall risks. Twenty-five older adults in the U.S. completed the study (recruitment rate: 55%; retention rate: 64%). Participants rated the study as 87.16 (100 = excellent), and likelihood to recommend the study to others was 80.85 (100 = most likely). Participants were 84% female, mean age 88.6 years old. Fall risks such as fear of falling decreased from 16.05 to 15.12 ( p = .022), fall prevention behaviors increased from 2.94 to 3.07 ( p = .048), and the level of confidence to prevent falls increased from 63.38 to 78.35 ( p = .015). Students commonly provided education and coaching on fall prevention strategies, and addressed emotional and behavioral aspects of fall prevention. With improvement with recruitment and retention, student-led FPCM intervention is a promising approach for fall prevention in ALF.