This document provides guidance on setting up an effective falls prevention program in 3 steps: 1) Determine the needs, resources, and support available. Identify champions and assess current programs. 2) Choose an evidence-based program that fits your organization and population, and ensure you have the trained staff and funding to implement it with fidelity. 3) Partner with community organizations for continued care, evaluate the program regularly through quality assurance, and make improvements through continuous quality improvement. The goal is to attract and retain the right participants to address their risk factors for falls.

1. Setting Up A Falls
Prevention Program
By : Merce Veneracion , PT , CCI

2. “Effective interventions can prevent
falls”

3. • Provide strategies for developing partnerships
• Provide information on building the infrastructure needed to implement effective programs
• Suggest approaches to improving program implementation
• Provide methods for evaluating programs
• Suggest ways to promote programs
• Provide resources and strategies to increase sustainability
The Purpose Of Having a Falls Prevention Program

4. Steps
• Determine the burden of the facility or the community such as data
• How much support for starting the falls prevention program will have
at all levels of the organization ?
• What are the current goals of the organization in providing care to the
elderly ?
• What are the current programs being offered in your organization ?
• What are the existing community resources ?
• Who will be the champions and team players?

5. Implementation
• Are there program and training manuals available ?
• Can the program be implemented with fidelity in your setting ?
• Does the program offer strategies for linking participants and the
program itself with healthcare professionals as needed?
• Does the program include methods of maintaining fidelity over
time?
• Does the program include easy to administer pre and post test
to document improvements in participants’ functional abilities? (
such as TUG , Timed Up and Go test )

6. How to Determine Readiness
• Is there a buy-in from leadership?
• Is initial funding available to implement the program ?
• Is the organization committed to implementing an evidenced - based
program with fidelity ?
• Are trained personnel available to offer the program ?
• Do we know how we will sustain the program ?
• Have we thought of potential long term financing strategies including public
and private funding?
• Can we leverage existing models for delivering a fall prevention program ?

7. The Importance of Partnerships
• It helps with continuation of care
• It makes the program more comprehensive , effective and
less costly
• It can channel more referral source for the program
• The partnership should be mutually beneficial and both
share the same mission of improving health and safety for
older adults and reducing falls .

8. Considerations
• Which program fits the organization?
• Does the program compliment the other existing programs?
• Is there a population for the program ?
• Do we have the trained personnel to implement the program?
• Are there costs associated to it such as space, licensing,transportation , and equipments?
• Will the program have education on falls prevention?
• Does the program promote falls prevention confidence among the participants?
• Does the program address modifiable risk factors?
• Can it be tailored to differing abilities of the participants?
• Are the exercises progressive?

9. Examples of Community Programs
• Area Agencies on Aging
• Emergency Medical Services
• Faith based and parish nurse services programs
• Health care organizations that provide individual health care and home based
services
• Home based services ( home health )
• Hospital outpatient and community programs
• Independent living , residential housing and senior housing facilities
• Non profit organizations
• Recreation facilities

10. Re evaluation of the Program
• Have we attracted the right audience?
• Are we enrolling the right number of people with the right
number of personnel?
• Are we retaining the participants in the program once they
enroll?

11. Target Audience
• Who are they?
• Where do they live?
• What is important to them ? Patient and family goals?
Ask- Tell - Ask approach
• How do they get their information ?
• Any barriers ? Such as literacy and language barriers

12. Who Can Help ?
• Local providers such as , Physicians, Physical Therapists,
Occupational Therapists and community health workers

13. Program Quality
• Developing a Quality Assurance program is important
• It provides credibility especially for funders and other
stakeholders
• QA should address program fidelity and continuous quality
improvement
• Fidelity means it must retain the key elements that made
the intervention effective . It should be delivered
consistently by all personnel in across sites and following
the original design.

14. Continuous Quality Improvement
• Planning ( SMART goals ) ,
• Monitoring
• Evaluation and Re evaluations and
• Revisions
A CQI Needs :

15. Evidenced- Based Falls Prevention
Programs
•A Matter of Balance
•CAPABLE
•Enhance Fitness
•Fit and Strong
•Healthy Steps in Motion
•Healthy Steps for Older Adults
•Otago Exercise Program
•Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL)
•Stepping ON
•Stay Safe , Stay Active
•Tai Chi for Arthritis
•YMCA Moving for Better Balance

16. Thank You