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Fall Prevention

Acting surgeon general stresses falls reduction as part of 'healthy homes' program

June 12, 2009

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., said this week he will make prevention of senior falls one of the top priorities of his new program, "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes."

Doctors warn: Non-payment for patient falls could lead to increased use of restraints

June 05, 2009

New regulations that stop payments to hospitals for treatment after potentially preventable patient falls could backfire, leading instead to increased use of restraints, a Harvard Medical School physician and colleagues are warning.

Seniors urged to overcome health worries to improve mobility

April 27, 2009

Cautioning elderly people from attempting to do too much physically is actually counterproductive, researchers suggest. They say that many seniors who worry about their health or possible negative outcomes from exercising instead choose to remain inactive, therefore causing greater potential harm later in life.

Group launches project to predict, prevent falls in nursing homes

March 27, 2009

An Illinois-based company has kicked off a multi-state project designed to help predict falls among assisted living and skilled nursing facility residents.

Study shows simple foot exercises significantly decrease seniors' risk of falls

March 10, 2009

Seniors who perform simple ankle and foot exercises a few times per week can noticeably improve their strength and balance, according to recent research.

Fall prevention training shows positive results in research environment

February 05, 2009

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have been working on a way to "inoculate" seniors against falls. Those efforts appear to be paying off, according to recent reports.

Study: Proactive measures can halve the risk of hip fractures in seniors

November 05, 2008

Taking proactive steps, including using certain tests and medications, can help reduce hip fracture rates among those at risk by as much as 50%, according to a new online study.

Anti-frailty pill on the horizon?

November 05, 2008

Researchers in Virginia have identified a drug that has increased muscle mass in older, frailer people.

Study: Sleep helps older women prevent falls

September 29, 2008

Women aged 70 or older who receive less than five hours of sleep per night are at a greater risk of falls, according to a recent study.

Advancing Excellence campaign receives major grant from Commonwealth Fund

August 28, 2008

The Commonwealth Fund has awarded a $474,000 grant to the steering committee of the Advancing Excellence campaign, a two-year campaign that aims to improve care in the nation's nursing homes.

Fracture risks among elderly rise after hospital visits

August 18, 2008

People in their 70s who were hospitalized showed a threefold increase in the risk of bone fractures during the year following admission, according to a new report.

New falls risk research afoot

August 15, 2008

There are many common risk factors associated with falls: reduced strength, balance difficulty, vision problems, and use of multiple medications are a few. But researchers in Boston are turning their attention to lesser known and often misunderstood risks.

Fall-prevention awareness can cut ER visits, save money, state finds

August 12, 2008

Fall-prevention education can help reduce the number of emergency-department visits and healthcare costs in Connecticut, a state-funded report found.

Study: Falling like 'parachutist' lowers seniors' hip fracture odds by 70%

July 09, 2008

If falling seniors tumble like a landing skydiver-and do it promptly-they can reduce their likelihood of a hip fracture by 70%, University of Michigan researchers say.

Report: Brain injuries caused by falls killed 8,000 seniors

June 25, 2008

Falls should be a leading concern for the elderly, but not necessarily for the reason many think. The damage can go far beyond a demobilizing broken hip or other bone, researchers said this week.

An imperfect world calls for an increase in risk management

John Andrews May 01, 2008

Falls and medication errors can lead to big problems. That is why providers need to be extra vigilant about prevention.

Pay attention: Ritalin might aid in elderly fall prevention

April 29, 2008

Ritalin, a drug commonly prescribed to improve children's concentration in school, might have a new function in preventing falls among the elderly, according to new research.

Bush signs falls prevention bill

April 28, 2008

President Bush late last week signed the Safety of Seniors Act, a bill that aims to raise awareness about falls among the elderly and expands research into identifying at-risk populations.

Falls prevention bill heads to president

April 10, 2008

The Safety of Seniors Act, a bi-partisan bill designed to expand research into, and raise awareness of falls in the elderly population, cleared the House and is now headed to the president for his approval.

Study: Falls, sores unaffected by nurse-patient ratio

March 25, 2008

The preliminary findings of a study on the effect of increased nurse-to-patient ratio laws in California hospitals has shown mixed results - and met with some serious criticism from providers.

Guideline urges falls-risk screening for dementia patients

February 11, 2008

A new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology advises screening people with stroke, dementia, and walking and balance disorders, and others at high risk for falls.

Tech toys

January 30, 2008

The nation's top lawmakers are learning more about new monitoring, personal health record and brain fitness technologies for seniors during a special briefing and demonstration today.Senators from the Special Committee on Aging; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and the Medical Technology Caucus are hosting the event to discuss and explore what type of support is needed to promote technological advances that can help our nation's aging population.

Weighty matters

January 30, 2008

Tanita's PW-630U wheelchair scale is designed to make it easy for residents to get on the scale and be stable. The durable, portable unit is equipped with wheels, allowing caregivers to bring the scale wherever elderly or wheelchair-bound residents are. Other features include body mass index, an integrated thermal printer, memory, recall and RS-232 output so data can be captured electronically.

It's about time

January 30, 2008

Staying on top of the latest products, services and industry trends can be a time-devouring pursuit. But the job just became less time consuming, thanks to our new Web site. Eldercare pros can find many time-saving options. These include a substantially enhanced Directory that makes it easier to locate needed services, plus videos of important suppliers. The latest job openings are also available, as well as immediate access to our Career Guide. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our new site. We think you'll find it's time well spent.

Study: Slash falls by using restraints, fewer drugs

January 16, 2008

Giving fewer sleeping pills and selectively restraining some residents could produce far fewer resident falls, according to a new report out of Sweden.