Preventing Falls in Long-Term Care: New study highlights System-Wide Solutions

Preventing Falls in Long-Term Care: New study highlights System-Wide Solutions

By: Alexandra de Leon Date: November 21st, 2024

Older adults residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have a higher risk for falls.

While many fall prevention efforts focus on individuals, like balance exercises or medication adjustments, new research highlights system-wide changes to make a bigger impact.

A scoping review led by the UW Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center looked at how facility-wide programs, tools, and training can reduce falls in LTCFs. Researchers identified four approaches:

  • Team-Based Programs: These combine efforts from nurses, therapists, and other staff to address fall risks from all angles.
  • Environmental Changes: Simple updates, like better lighting or removing trip hazards, can make a huge difference.
  • Tech Tools/Adaptations: Innovations like fall-detection systems and wearable sensors are giving staff a high-tech edge.
  • Staff Training & Education: Empowering caregivers with the right skills and knowledge helps them better protect residents.

Investigators say this scoping review shows the effectiveness of system-level fall prevention strategies.  Enhancing training, customizing tools and fostering a supportive leadership culture are vital for improving fall prevention practices in LTCFs.

Funding for this work was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (CDC 1R49CE003087). The results were published September 2024 in the journal, Injury Prevention. This is the second of two scoping reviews focused on fall prevention within LTCFs and focuses on system-level fall prevention programs. To read more from the previous paper, click here >>

Investigators on this study represent the Human Development Nursing Science in the College of Nursing at University of Illinois, Chicago; the School of Public Health at the University of Washington; Connell School of Nursing at Boston College; The Department of Nursing at Dongguk University-South Korea; the School of Nursing at the University of Washington; and the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center at the UW School of Medicine.