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300468
Hands on strategies CHWs can use to prevent and reduce falls among older adults
Monday, November 17, 2014
: 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
Tiffany Shubert, PT, PHD
,
Center for Aging and Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Marcia Gail Ory, PhD, MPH
,
Prevention Research Center, Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX
Doris Howell, MPH
,
Program on Healthy Aging, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Cherie Rosemond, PT, PhD, GCS
,
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Matthew Lee Smith, PhD, MPH, CHES
,
Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, The University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Athens, GA
Chris Beaudoin, PhD
,
Department of Communication, College of Liberal Arts, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Stephanie Bomberger
,
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Falls are the most common type of accident in older adults. Every 18 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall. Every 35 seconds, an older adult dies as the result of injuries from falling and about 60% of fatal falls happen at home. However, falls are preventable; by identifying and addressing common risk factors, falls can be avoided and injury from falls can be reduced. Given CHWs are trusted members in their community and have frequent interaction with families and older adults, CHWs have an unique and essential role to help prevent falls and reduce injuries among older adults. An evidence-based CHW curriculum on fall prevention for older adults was designed, tested, and implemented by a team of CHWs and content experts as part of The Policies, Programs, and Partners for Fall Prevention (PPPFP) study that incorporates multi-level intervention approaches to address fall prevention using a variety of dissemination research methodologies. This presentation will focus on interactive activities from the curriculum that will engage CHWs and cover the facts related to falls among older adults; how to identify risk factors for falls; and discussing strategies to address and reduce risk factors. The presentation will also engage CHWs in message tailoring activities so that CHWs can adapt fall prevention messages for their individual communities. Activities will include “jeopardy,” group work, and role play. The presentation will be given by a CHW instructor and a CHW co-presenter.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Explain why preventing and reducing falls among older adults is important.
List and explain risk factors for falling, both inside and outside the home
Describe ways CHWs can help reduce falls among older adults.
Demonstrate message tailoring with CHWs so CHWs can adapt fall prevention messages for their respective communities.
Keyword(s): Community Health Workers and Promoters, Aging
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Julie St. John, in collaboration with Policies, Programs, and Partners for Fall Prevention (PPPFP) Study team, has developed the CHW training curriculum. In particular Dr. St. John has trained, supervised, and worked with CHWs for the past twelve years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
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.
