Passage of the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, introduced in the House last month, would go a long way toward preventing falls among older adults. The legislation would allow a senior who has fallen in the last year to become eligible for a no-cost falls risk assessment from a physical or occupational therapist. Still, more awareness of falls — the leading cause of injury death for those over age 65 — and particularly how PTs and OTs help to prevent them — is necessary. That is according to Nikesh Patel, PT, executive director of the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation, and Travis King, PT, chief quality officer for FOX Rehabilitation, who spoke to McKnight’s Home Care for a Newsmakers podcast.
One critical piece of missing information about falls is the role of the physical and occupational therapist in helping to prevent falls, Patel said. There is no mention of “falls” in the therapists’ titles so healthcare regulators and legislators don’t realize that such therapists are falls specialists. With the appropriate clinical intervention — such as helping someone gain strength, receive a more appropriate-sized cane or modify their home for safety — older adults can reduce their risk of falling and be able to age comfortably in place. Major home falls risk factors are lack of lower extremity strength, a hazardous home environment, poor vision and a previous fall, King and Patel explained. When someone leaves the hospital or a rehab facility and returns home, it is important to strike the right balance between returning to function and receiving the appropriate assistance, perhaps from a PT, King said. Home health and personal care agencies are in a great position to help stop falls among older adults because they can see the person’s living situation firsthand and make appropriate changes. Just understanding a patient’s nutritional needs may make a difference in stopping a fall, King noted.
Follow us on social media:
X (formerly Twitter): @McKHomeCare
Facebook: McKnight's Home Care
LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care
Instagram: mcknights_homecare
Follow APTQI on social media:
X (formerly Twitter): @AlliancePTQI
Facebook: Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation
LinkedIn: Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation
Follow FOX Rehab on social media:
X (formerly Twitter): @FOXRehab
Facebook: FOX Rehabilitation
LinkedIn: FOX Rehabilitation
Instagram: foxrehab