Each year the Network completes two mini reviews, summarising the emerging evidence in specific areas of fall prevention research.
Environmental Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community
Natassia Smith1,2, Stephen Lord1,2
1 Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia
2 Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW
This 'mini-evidence' review summarises the latest evidence from a Cochrane Review and meta-analysis into the environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community.
Excerpt from the Mini-Review
A major proportion (50%) of hospitalised falls in community-dwelling older people occur in and around the home, on a level surface (60%), such as a slip, trip or stumble [1, 4] and are commonly associated with an environmental hazard [5, 6]. The most frequently identified hazards are mats, floor surfaces, steps/stairs, obstacles, and the absence of grab rails in the bathroom [7]. Environmental interventions aim to improve an older individual's safety in the home, outdoors, and in public places to reduce their risk of falling. Strategies can include the assessment and provision of assistive devices (walking aids), modifications to the environment (fastening carpets or installing better lighting), behavioural adaptations (avoiding rushing), and mobility/transfer training [8]. A broad range of interventions to prevent falls across different settings has been evaluated [9].
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