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Abstract #150555

Maryalice Nocera, MSN¹, Carri Casteel, PhD¹, Carol W. Runyan, PhD², Cindy Ware, BS, MA¹, and Ciara Zachary, BA³. (1) Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 137 East Franklin Street Suite 500, CB #7505, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7505, 919-966-9769, mnocera@email.unc.edu, (2) Injury Prevention Research Center and Dept. of Health Behavior and Health Education, Univ. of North Carolina, 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 500, Campus Box 7505, Chapel HIll, NC 27599-7505, (3) Injury Prevention Research Center and Dept. of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 500, Campus Box 7505, Chapel HIll, NC 27599-7505

Purpose: Falls are the leading cause of unintentional home injury death among older adults in the United States. Multifaceted programs are effective in reducing falls among older adults but may require a level of resources and skill unavailable at many senior centers. This study examined the perceived need for and barriers to implementation of falls prevention programs in senior centers. Methods: A telephone interview was conducted between June and November, 2006 with a national sample of 507 senior centers, representative of urbanicity and resident population at least 60 years of age.Information was obtained about center resources, need for falls prevention education, and need for training and administrative support to deliver a falls prevention program. Descriptive analyses were conducted.Results: Senior center activities directors felt the need for falls prevention information for older adults was high (Mean 8.29, on a 1-10 scale), although less than half of the centers surveyed reported using a falls prevention program (44%). Primary barriers to implementing falls prevention programs were inadequate staff and staff time to deliver such programs, lack of knowledge and experience in delivering falls prevention information, and perceived lack of senior interest in the topic. Additionally, more than 50% of respondents identified inadequate resources, such as funding and community collaborations, to offer comprehensive programs. Conclusion: Understanding the limitations of senior center resources provides guidance for development of targeted strategies that may make for more successful dissemination of comprehensive health promotion programs, including falls prevention.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe senior center and older adult interest in falls prevention programs.
• Identify resources available to senior centers for the delivery of falls prevention programs. 3.List three barriers to the implementation of falls prevention programs at senior centers.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.