TIP OF THE WEEK
Home modifications to prevent falls
From the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence.
About half of all falls happen at home. The home -- whether a single family dwelling, an apartment, or a mobile home -- is where many older adults spend most of their time. Home modification can reduce the chances of falling at home.
Home modification refers to adapting or converting the physical environment to make performing tasks easier and reduce accidents. It includes removing hazards, adding grab bars or other assistive devices, changing how/where activities occur so as to minimize risks, and renovating or changing the structure to accommodate a disability.
Here are some everyday situations that pose risks for falls, and some possible solutions:
- Lack of support in the bathroom/shower. Solution: Install grab bars and use non-slip mats or non-skid strips.
- Lack of support in the toilet. Solution: Install grab bars or use raised toilet seat.
- Climbing stairs. Solution: Install handrails on both sides of the stairs.
- Dark passage or stairway. Solution: Install brighter lights, and have switches at both ends.
- Objects in the way such as books, clothes, newspapers, and shoes. Solution: Remove them from the pathway.
- Slippery rugs. Solution: Remove or use double-sided tape to secure them to the floor.
- Items out of reach. Solution: Keep ones most often used at levels that can be reached easily.
Download a handout for your patients (PDF)
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
IHI On Demand: Effective Teamwork as a Care Strategy - SBAR and Other Tools for Improving Communication Between Caregivers
After viewing this 49-minute streaming video presentation, led by expert faculty member, Michael Leonard, MD, you will understand and be able to implement the SBAR approach and use other tools and behaviors to develop effective teamwork and communication, thereby ensuring clear, accurate information among caregivers.
You can view this On Demand presentation any time at your convenience. The program is synchronized with Dr. Leonard’s presentation slides. You may pause or stop the presentation at any point and resume where you left off.
IN THE NEWS
RISK FACTORS FOR INCONTINENCE CHANGE AS WOMEN AGE
January 30, 2007 -- Reuters Health -- A new study found that although “stress” incontinence (i.e., laughing or coughing) is common, “urge” incontinence (i.e., overwhelming need to urinate) grew more common, particularly among African American women, as the participants of the study aged. Read More >>
NO-COST, IN-HOME CARE FOR ELDERLY PROVIDED BY FAMILY MEMBERS AMOUNTS TO AN ESTIMATED $306B ANNUALLY
January 30, 2007 -- Kaiser Network and the Philadelphia Inquirer -- Nearly 80 percent of all long-term care is provided in-home, most of it by family members at no cost, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The care that "29 million Americans provide for free amounts to an estimated $306 billion" annually, according to the Inquirer. Medicaid spending for in-home care has tripled between 1996 and 2005 to $22.7 billion. While Medicaid will provide aides for in-home care, they are limited to services including light house cleaning, errands, or bathing and are not permitted to provide skilled nursing care, such as help with feeding tubes. Read More >>
January 26, 2007 -- Premier Inc. -- According to the results released today, more than 260 hospitals participating in the CMS/Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) project have raised overall quality by 11.8 percent in two years, based on their delivery of 30 nationally standardized and widely accepted care measures to patients in five clinical areas. Variation between top and bottom performers continues to shrink as clinical quality improves at participating hospitals. Read More >>
COMING ATTRACTIONS
ARE YOU READY FOR PAY FOR PERFORMANCE?
The Ohio KePRO Home Health Team is planning meetings around Ohio for the end of March. We plan to discuss what agencies can start doing now to prepare for pay for performance. More details and registration to come in future editions of this e-newsletter.
