Understanding the association between affect and ability to follow through on community health recommendations: A example from an accidental falls risk assessment program

Public health interventions range from those undertaken with individuals to wide-reaching community projects. This poster presents data from follow-ups of more than 3000 persons participating in face-to-face interventions associated with a community falls prevention program. The program has been in existence in Central Illinois for 19 years. People participating in this program are community-dwelling, frail older adults, over age 60, identified by home-health case managers at local acute care hospitals and Illinois Department of Aging community case managers as being particularly at risk for accidental falls. An occupational therapist makes a home visit and assesses the individual and key areas of the home for unsafe habits, practices and environmental issues. Recommendations are made to change the environment and the program can provide low-cost assistive equipments (e.g., bathtub safety benches) to the participant. Follow-up surveys are mailed to the individual approximately 6-months following the home assessment. These surveys contain items related to health (including mental health), fear of falling, ability to accomplish ADLs, and an extensive check-list designed to detect the continued presence of environmental dangers associated with falling post-OT visit. Analyses showed that persons who reported symptoms associated with dysthymia (e.g., feeling blue) were more likely to have environmental hazards still present in their homes (p<.05) compared to participants who reported fewer mood associated symptoms. Results from this study reinforce the need for the development of easy to use, reliable, continuing follow-up mechanisms to remind people of the need to follow through on health recommendations made through community-based programs.