08/22/2013
CDC Toolkit Helps Prevent Falls in Older Adults
Each year, one in three older adults will sustain a potentially dangerous fall, which can lead to injuries like hip fractures or traumatic brain injury. On September 22, 2013, Ohio observed National Falls Prevention Awareness Day (NFPAD) in order to raise awareness about this serious issue. NFPAD is the perfect opportunity for healthcare providers to learn more about assessing—and reducing—the risk of falls in their elderly patients.
To help healthcare providers prevent falls, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a simple toolkit to identify patients’ risk of a potential fall. The “Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) Toolkit” is a resource which includes:
- Basic information about falls
- Case studies
- Conversation starters
- Standardized balance and gait assessment tests
- Educational handouts about preventing falls, which are specifically designed for patients and their friends and family
Digital copies of the STEADI Toolkit can be found here. The Ohio Department of Health is also offering printed copies by request. To obtain printed STEADI Toolkit resources, simply submit your name, provider type, email address, and phone number to HealthyO@odh.ohio.gov.