Home Health & Hospice Week

The last thing you need is an assessment program that doesn't adequately curb your patients' chances of falling.

As you evaluate what you need to do to prepare for OASIS C, one of the most important areas to consider is your falls prevention program. Falls are the leading cause of serious or fatal injuries among people over 65, studies show. One-third of those over 65 and half of those over 80 fall each

year, reports the Home Safety Council of the National Council on Aging.

Many of the underlying reasons for falls are well known, including poor vision, previous falls, postural hypotension, etc. However, there are many, such as pets and a walking exercise program, which are less familiar.

"We highly recommend that agencies consider implementing a falls risk assessment tool to drive care planning and best practices," says Patricia Tulloch, senior consultant with Staatsburg, N.Y.-based RBC Limited. Many software vendors are refining their falls risk tools in preparing for OASIS C, she tells Eli. Or agencies can use one of the many free tools available.

Most fall risk assessments will focus on these issues, says Judy Adams, president and CEO of Adams Home Care Consulting in Chapel Hill, N.C.:

• history of falls;

• any mobility problems;

• living situation, especially if the patient lives alone and has a decreased ability to transfer safely and ambulate;

• home safety environmental assessment and recommendations; and

• a careful review of medications including a consultation with the physician about possible changes if the patient takes medications that have side effects like drowsiness or lightheadedness.

The better falls risk assessment tools have a scoring system that leads to specific interventions, Adams says.

For example: The intervention could be a physical therapy evaluation to improve specific functional issues or address other problems that might be contributing to a higher falls risk. Or, an occupational therapist could perform a home safety evaluation and assist with rails, grab bars, and other safety devices that might be needed in the home, she points out.

Smart idea: Involve your therapists in your falls prevention program, experts stress. PTs are specially trained in falls prevention in general as well as in evaluating specific falls risk assessment tools. A therapist also can help train staff in using the assessment tool you choose.