Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #103618

Jennifer Churchill, BSW, Community Development Branch, York Region Health Services, 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, ON L3Y 6Z1, Canada, 905-895-4511, jennifer.churchill@york.ca and Patricia Thomas, RN, MScN, MEd, Healthy Lifestyles, Toronto Public Health, 399 The West Mall, 4th floor, Toronto, ON M9C 2Y2, Canada.

Research has consistently shown that falls are one of the most common and severe occurrences in the elderly. The FIT Project is an interdisciplinary falls prevention program focusing on identification and intervention for modifiable risk factors in the frail elderly. Objectives of the program are to reduce risk factors, optimize activity, mobility and community integration. This innovative falls prevention project was developed, coordinated and evaluated by three lead organizations ( Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto Public Health and York Region Health Services), in collaboration with community service partners, veterans and seniors. The result is a program consisting of standardized client assessment /intervention, and a series of scheduled home visits by a public health nurse and a community based physiotherapist. Assessment results are used to identify modifiable risk factors and develop an individualized intervention plan. Analysis of program participants reveals statistically significant improvement in balance, balance confidence and client mobility. Average change score on the Berg Balance Scale was six points, which is also clinically significant. The average percent increase in the Balance Confidence Scale was 11.46%. Client's satisfaction with their social participation as measured by the Re-Integration to Normal Living Index ( RNLI) improved by an average of 5 points. Clients who had previous falls showed a statistically significant reduction in falls during the intervention period. The FIT project is based on the best available scientific evidence and has exciting findings. The project may guide future standards of care in falls prevention in community-dwelling seniors.

Learning Objectives:

• In this session, participants will learn about strategies to integrate theory driven, evidence based concepts into all aspects of falls prevention program development, including client assessment and intervention, and program evaluation. The session will provide an opportunity to examine a falls prevention model with a focus on cost effective, individualized assessment, intervention and evaluation. Participants will discuss linking program objectives with evaluation strategies and measurable outcomes.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation