Research Articles
Books
Videos
Websites

 

Books

Tideiksaar, R. (2005). Avoiding Falls: A Guidebook for Certified Nursing Assistants. Thomson Delmar Learning. ISBN-10: 1401865763. ISBN-13: 978-1401865764

Strumpf, N.E., Robinson, J.P., Wagner, J.S., and Evans, L.K. (1998). Restraint-Free Care: Individualized approaches for frail elders. Springer series on geriatric nursing, Springer Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 0826112153.

Morse, J.M. (1997). Preventing Patient Falls. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. ISBN 0761905936

Tideiksaar,R. (1997). Falling in Old Age: Prevention and Management. New York: Springer Publishing Company, (second edition). ISBN-10: 0826152910. ISBN-13: 978-0826152916

• This book provides an enormous body of fall-related research that has been organized into easily digestible information for geriatric health professionals. This second edition has direct clinical applications and strategies for preventing and managing falls.

top of page

Videos

Fear of Falling . FFH 5783. Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Box 2053 Princeton, NJ 08543-2053, $89.95; To order by phone: (800) 257-5126; online: www.films.com; email: custserv@films.com.

• This program discusses the concerns older people have about falling and addresses the importance of staying active. Through interviews with seniors and expert testimony from medical personal, the program stresses the health risks of inactivity for older people and suggests ways for seniors to keep moving without jeopardizing their safety.

Planning Care to Prevent Falls . Models of Hope, Inc Video, $79; to order by phone: 408-257-4110; online: www.modelsofhopemedia.org/products.html; fax: 408-257-4996.

• After a general introduction concerning the prevalence of falls among the elderly, including those in nursing homes, the video focuses on the development of an effective fall-prevention program. The video also addresses the topics of risk factors and interventions and explores the impact of residents' medications.

Preventing Falls in the Geriatric Patient . Geriatric Video Productions, $169; available for ordering at: https://www.geriatricvideo.com/search.php?s=falls

• This video  discusses the most common causes of falls, as well as an individualized assessment to identify geriatric patients who are at risk. It explores interventions and alternatives to physical and chemical restraints. The video also discusses how to develop a plan to reduce falls, improve patient outcomes, and prevent serious injuries in any geriatric care setting. Includes a written guide.

Program 512 Falls Prevention . Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Available at: http://www.rhef.com.au/programs/512/512.html

• This video discusses best practices in falls intervention in the community, residential and acute care settings. It teaches viewers to identify risk factors for falls, identify the clinical implications of falls and appropriate interventions, and increase their awareness and understanding of falls prevention strategies.

Restraint-Free Care. Produced by Envision. Item #ENV004-VHS; 21 minutes; purchase for $275 or 7-day rental for $95. Available for ordering at: http://tinyurl.com/3djqtc

• This video program will prepare your staff to carefully assess a situation and to seek new alternatives to restraints through individualized care planning. It discusses the types of restraints, reasons they are used, myths, problems from use of restraints, and individualized care planning for restraint use.

Restraint Reduction and Fall Prevention. Produced by Envision. Purchase for $295. Available at hcPros�s Healthcare Marketplace � The Online Store for Healthcare Management Professionals: http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-585.html

• This video training program discusses why restraints have typically been used; how to carefully assess the patient and the environment; how to analyze the causes of the behaviour; and how to develop individualized interventions based on the assessment. This video will teach caregivers to apply fall prevention techniques by identifying at-risk patients and determining appropriate interventions.
• When you purchase this video, you will automatically receive a bonus video titled �Assessment of the Fallen Patient�. This video provides an explanation of the most common injuries from falls, and teaches caregivers how to give an initial evaluation to establish stability of patient, a physical exam, and treatment Interventions.
• Also comes with a free workbook!

CNA Training Solution Video: Falls Prevention. Published by HCPro Inc. Purchase for $99 at hcPros�s Healthcare Marketplace � The Online Store for Healthcare Management Professionals: http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-3429.html

• This video trains nursing assistants on how to help prevent resident falls, teaching them to recognize and address risk factors. It features the most up-to-date training available teaching nursing assistants information and techniques that follow the most recent guidelines and standards of care. When you purchase this video, it comes with a comprehensive 30-45 minute inservice on falls prevention, including an 8-to-10 minute live-action video, a complete lesson plan, handouts for your CNAs, a post-test, and a certificate of completion for documenting mandatory inservice training hours.

All the King�s Men: Management�s Role in Falls Mitigation. Purchase for $83.95. Available at the Ohio Health Care Association website: http://tinyurl.com/2azazx

• This video focuses on the falls management process and the vital aspects that must be addressed including facility values, pre-fall assessments, plan of care interventions, post fall assessment, data collection and analysis and communication.
  

Falls Prevention Screening Tools. Available for viewing on the Saskatoon Health Region website at: http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_ip_falls_screening_tools.htm

• This video presents a s tatistical overview of injury prevention among seniors, identifies components of successful falls prevention strategy, explains algorithm for falls assessment, demonstrates 2 fall screening tests (Timed Up and Go and Elderly falls Screening Test), demonstrates use of Multi-Factor Falls Questionnaire to identify the evidence of risk, explores medical indicators for falls , and discusses the influence of dementia on fall risk .

Everyone Wins! Quality Care Without Restraints-A Family Guide to Restraint-Free Care. Produced by Independent Production. Fund, Toby Levin Communications, Inc., 1995. Distributed by American Health Care Association, 11:00 minutes. VHS withsupport material. Can be rented for 5 days as a complete set of 6 for $75 or individual modules for $15 each for 5 days at the North Dakota Long Term Care Association video library: www.ndltca.org/video.html

• Part eight of this eight part series presents a creative way to provide quality care to nursing home residents without using restraints. Discusses how a spouse became more comfortable with his wife being restraint free after a fall by watching other residents and his wife's ability to navigate without a lot of problems. Audience: Geriatric Professionals, Nurses. Caregivers.

Everyone Wins! Quality Care Without Restraints- Up and About: Minimizing the Risk of Fall Injuries . Produced by Independent Production Fund, Toby Levin Communications, Inc., 1995. Distributed by American Health Care Association, 15:00 minutes. VHS with support material. Can be rented for 5 days as a complete set of 6 for $75 or individual modules for $15 each for 5 days at the North Dakota Long Term Care Association video library: www.ndltca.org/video.html

• Part two of this eight part series presents a creative way to provide quality care to nursing home residents without using restraints. It discusses various causes of falls in nursing homes and demonstrates how assessment can help staff members plan and implement individualized restraint-free strategies. Audience: Geriatric Professionals, Nurses, Nurse's Aides.

The Fall Prevention Program: A comprehensive program for prevention of falls and injuries in long term care residents .
Part I: Why Falls Happen (17:37 minutes) and Part II: How to Prevent Falls (15:37 minutes). Can be rented for 5 days as for $15 each at the North Dakota Long Term Care Association video library: www.ndltca.org/video.html

* For information on purchasing the previous three videos, contact Pam Cook at the NDLTCA office at Phone: 701-222-0660 or Email: pam@ndltca.org 

top of page

Websites

Premier: http://www.premierinc.com/all/safety/resources/falls/

Includes information on:

• Extent of the problem: incidence and costs of falls
• Definitions and measurement: trending and benchmarking fall data
• Causes of falls: information to assist with identification of risks and prevention
• Interventions and prevention strategies: overview of strategies, use of sitters
• Risk assessment: tools for risk and injury assessment and when to conduct it
• Comprehensive prevention program: tools for program assessment, sample guidelines
• List of suppliers of fall prevention equipment or products
• Education and training: training resources, fact sheets, guidelines

Special features:

• includes a section of additional resources that can be easily downloaded and links to other fall prevention websites
• the �search� tool is very useful in searching for related articles

Center for Disease Control and Prevention � The Tool Kit : http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/toolkit.htm

Includes information on:

• an introduction to the problem and fact sheets about falls among older adults in general and those in nursing homes
• fact sheet on falls in nursing homes talks about the seriousness of the problem, why falls occur more often in nursing homes, the common causes of falls, an ways to prevent falls
• contains graphs, charts, and maps on fall data
• includes a list of other fall-related sites

Special features:

• Can download fall prevention brochures in English, Spanish, and Chinese
• Can use search tool to find fall related articles within the site

Seek Wellness Fall Prevention Center : http://www.seekwellness.com/fallprevention/index.htm

Includes information on:

• Extent of falling, consequences and circumstances of falling
• Risk factors: intrinsic and extrinsic
• Causes of falling
• Interventions aimed at preventing falls: medical management, rehabilitative strategies, environmental strategies, injury reduction strategies
• Assessing fall risks: medical, environmental, rehabilitative, behavioural
• Fall and injury prevention devices: exit alarms, sitter fall monitors, hip protectors, bed rails, absorptive floor mats, etc

Special features:

• Can purchase fall prevention devices from the site

Social Care Institute for Excellence : http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/briefings/briefing01/index.asp

Includes information on:

• The issue, why it is important, and good interventions
• Ethical considerations: restraints of residents, surveillance and passive alarms
• The views of users and user groups on falling
• What we need to do: read guidelines and research summaries, �how we can help� articles
• What are the implications
• Who we can contact for more information and advice
• Resource sites

Special features:

• Lists many sites where we can find examples of innovative practice

University of Minnesota , Environmental Health Sciences: Injury Prevention: http://enhs.umn.edu/2004injuryprevent/falls/falls.html

Includes information on:

• Falls and injurious falls in nursing home elderly: definition, introduction (extent of problem), significance and statistics on falls
• Discusses and analyzes associated trends, exposure variables and consequences of these injuries and fatalities (costs, hip fractures)
• Obstructive factors that limit the progress in reduction of fall injuries and fatalities
• Recommends and develops intervention strategies for prevention and control of fall injuries/fatalities in nursing homes: Haddon�s Matrix Control Option Analysis, Haddon�s Ten Strategies in Fighting Fall Injuries/Fatalities in nursing homes

Fall Prevention Center of Excellence: http://www.stopfalls.org/researchers_educators/re_mm.shtml

Includes information on:

• Headings include balance and mobility, environmental management, medical management, resources, and falls research
• Each heading includes tools, websites, articles, and other fall prevention related items (i.e. videotapes, sites on Tai Chi)
• Resources include PDF documents of national and international fall prevention plans, as well as articles such as fall prevention guidelines, intervention strategies, cost analysis, etc.
• This site is an excellent resource site that provides links to the most popular fall prevention centers/sites as well as research articles, however the site itself does not contain any information about falls

Special features:

• Includes information for service providers, individuals and families, and researchers and educators

National Resource Center for Safe Aging : http://www.falls-chutes.com/guide/english/falls/falls8.html

Includes information on:

• Facts about falls: statistics, costs
• Risk factors: personal and environmental
• A story about a fall victim
• Reducing risks to prevent falls: active living, safer centers and communities
• List of things an organization should do to reduce falls: provide information and learning opportunities
• offer programs and activities: bathroom safety techniques and devices, stair behaviour, safe stairs
• motivate and support the members as they make changes: annual falls prevention campaign, personal encouragement, identify champions who are positive role models
• reduce barriers to making change, make adaptations in and around building
• provide links to other resources: have a bulletin board in the organization dedicated to fall prevention, have professionals come in and talk about it
• includes a contact list of organizations which may have information or resources on falls and falls prevention

Special features:

• Includes a section called �To help you help your members prevent falls� which includes handouts, quizzes, and activity tools for nursing homes to use to help educate the staff, seniors and family members
• Can use search tool to find hundreds of related sites and gives a brief summary about each site/article as well as list of fall prevention events

Temple University College of Health Professionals � The Fall Prevention Project : http://www.temple.edu/older_adult/

Includes information on:

• the objective of the Fall Prevention Project is to inform and educate people about the causes of falls in older adults, and the assessment, rehabilitative, and health promotion measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of falls in this age group
• site includes resources such as an online course for health care students, educators, and practitioners and an "In-Home Safety Check" for consumers
• it also offers a Fall Prevention Program Manual for practitioners and agencies, as well as links to other related sites

Special features:

• the information is available in about 7 languages

Health Hints - Preventing Falls: http://fcs.tamu.edu/health/Health_Education_Rural_Outreach/Health_Hints/2001/feb/feb-2001.php

Includes information on:

• Preventing Falls, seriousness of problem
• Risk Factors: history, drop attacks, dizziness, balance and gait, neurological and musculoskeletal disabilities
• Important types of exercise: aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises
• Other risk factors: Medication Use, Confusion, Visual Impairments, Fear of Falling, Footwear, Environmental Hazards
• Adapting the Home Environment to Reduce Fall Risk
• Adaptation Issues for the Nursing Home Resident
• Extension Resources

Special features:

• Includes a list of websites with reliable information

Technology for Long term Care- Fall Management: http://www.techforltc.org/ltc.cfm?pageid=154&CareIssue=1

Includes information on:

• fall management options that are currently available: technologies aimed at reducing risk of falls, at reducing risk of injury when a fall has occurred, and those that notify caregivers when a resident has fallen
• how to begin discussions about fall management technologies: consider scope of issue and how it may affect different levels of management
• business concerns to consider when choosing fall management technologies: costs, regulatory concerns, change management
• tradeoffs of fall management solutions with respect to the residents� quality of life: tradeoffs between safety, autonomy, privacy, dignity, independence

Special features:

• Includes an extensive list of technologies to prevent and manage falls

Prevent Falls : http://www.fallprevention.org/pages/abs_art.htm

Includes information on:

• Fall prevention � what you can do: clinicians and the public
• Facts about falls: causes and stats
• Information for clinicians: clinician instruments/materials, materials for patients, research articles
• Information for the public: testimonials, related websites, materials to download (fall risk checklist, medication record, balance exercises, walking tips, home safety checklist, etc.)
• Connecticut collaboration for fall prevention: additional printed materials, newsletters, falls prevention at work (photos)

Special features:

• Includes a list of research articles
• Includes easy to read pictorial graphs

Geriatrics at your Fingertips � Falls: http://www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org/ebook/gayf_13.asp

Includes information on:

• Definition, etiology
• Evaluation: history, physical assessment, a diagram on the assessment and management of falls, gait, balance, and mobility assessment, medications
• Prevention: includes a chart on selected risk factors and selected interventions

Special features:

• Interventions and risk factors very nicely organized in easy to read chart form

SmartRisk Navigator � Information for Seniors: http://smartrisk.ca/ContentDirector.aspx?tp=3274&dd=4

Includes information on:

• Facts on falls
• Facts on hip fractures
• The cost of falls
• Fall risks
• Strategies to prevent falls
• Mobility aids can help prevent falls
• How to order Smart Moves (a toolkit to reduce the incidence of falls)
• Quality assessment tool for printed materials targeting seniors

Special Features:

• one of the few sites that includes only Canadian data

BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit � Falls Prevention: http://tinyurl.com/38ep3h

Includes information on:

• an overview of the problem of falls
• current fall prevention projects in Canada
• surveys
• fall related publications
• falls links
• tools related to fall prevention
• quick tips on falls prevention

Special Features:

• one of the few sites that includes Canadian data
• includes a link to every article, project, and fall-related prevention tool

 

Current Perspectives in the Literature on Falls in Long-Term Care from the J.W. Crane Memorial Library. University of Manitoba (updated May 2007): http://myuminfo.umanitoba.ca/Documents/694/falls.pdf

This document contains a list of selected articles, books, and internet resources on falls, focusing on systematic reviews, best practice models and innovative approaches.