Target Audience

Health care professionals.

Description

Falls are the number one cause of unintentional injury deaths among adults aged 65 and over. CDC developed the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries, or “STEADI” initiative to help healthcare providers incorporate fall prevention into clinical practice. The goal of STEADI is to encourage healthcare providers to reduce falls among community-dwelling older adults and to promote their health and independence using a three-step process: screen, assess, and intervene.

The Iowa State University (ISU) Translational Research Network (U-TuRN) developed the modules to provide foundational training on the CDC STEADI Fall Risk Screening Protocol. The training provides an overview of the tools needed to screen individuals for fall risk, assess at-risk patients for modifiable risk factors, and intervene by referring individuals to evidence-based programs. 

Educational Need

As the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for older adults, falls are one of the most common and significant health issues facing people aged 65 years or older (Schneider, Shubert, and Harmon, 2010). Moreover, the rate of falls increases with age (Dykes et al., 2010). Older adults are five times more likely to be hospitalized for fall-related injuries than any other cause-related injury. One in every three adults over 65 is estimated to fall yearly (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). In those over age 80, the rate of falls increases to fifty percent (Doherty et al., 2009). Falls are associated with substantial cost and resource use, approaching $30,000 per fall hospitalization (Woolcott et al., 2011). Identifying at-risk patients is the most important part of management, as applying preventive measures in this vulnerable population can profoundly affect public health (al-Aama, 2011). Family physicians have a pivotal role in screening older patients for risk of falls and applying preventive strategies for at-risk patients (al- Aama, 2011). 

Modules

• Introduction to Falls and Fall Prevention: This module provides an overview of the importance of fall prevention programming for older adults and a summary of clinical / community strategies for prevention.
• Overview of STEADI (Screening—Assessing—Intervening): This module introduces the components and steps involved in using the STEADI fall risk screening protocol developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Iowa Falls Prevention Coalition Screening Program: This module describes the flexible screening options endorsed by the Iowa Falls Prevention Coalition for fall risk screening in clinical and community settings.
• Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs and Practices: This module summarizes the features and approaches of various evidence-based falls prevention programs endorsed by the National Council on Aging – highlighting specific program options available through the Iowa Community HUB.

Learning Objectives

• Articulate the burden of falls among older adults over the age of 65.
• List the three components of the CDC STEADI fall prevention initiative.
• Perform a CDC STEADI Falls Risk Assessment.
• Describe elements of evidence-based interventions and examples of programs designed to decrease the risk of falls.

Questions

Abbie Coniglio, MS
Project Manager, College of Health and Human Sciences, Iowa State University
Email