XYZ Assisted Living Community

Putting the Pieces Together To Develop a

Culture of Safety

Screening

ErgonomicsEducation

Therapy

CContinuum ofontinuum ofCCaringaring

Establishing a Culture of Caring

that we are all responsible for at

(Name of Community)

Culture of CaringCulture of Caring

Agenda

• A Review of Falls• Statistics• The systems of our body that give us

balance• Reasons for Falls

• Culture of Safety• Education: It’s everyone’s responsibility• Screening: Uncovering those who are at

greatest risk• Treatment: Hitting the causes of falls

• Now Where Do we Go from here . . .

Falls: Relevant StatisticsFalls: Relevant Statistics

• Falls are not a normal part of agingFalls are not a normal part of aging

• Annual fall rates:Annual fall rates:• 30% of those > 65 30% of those > 65 • 50% of those > 8050% of those > 80

Systems Controlling BalanceSystems Controlling Balance

• VestibularVestibular

• SomatosensorySomatosensory

• VisualVisual

• Musculo-SkeletalMusculo-Skeletal

• CognitiveCognitive

• 70% of our balance is vestibular when 70% of our balance is vestibular when our head and body are in motionour head and body are in motion

Balance Dynamics

www.onbalance.com

Reason for FallsReason for Falls• Dizziness is the #1 reason for fallsDizziness is the #1 reason for falls

• The rate of dizziness in the older population is 30-The rate of dizziness in the older population is 30-61% 61%

• 50% of dizziness is caused by BPPV by the age of 50% of dizziness is caused by BPPV by the age of 8080

• 50% of falls in elderly can be attributed to 50% of falls in elderly can be attributed to vestibular dysfunctionvestibular dysfunction• A person that has episodes of dizziness has a A person that has episodes of dizziness has a 12 12

foldfold increase risk of falling increase risk of falling

Other Causes• Age-related decline

• Changes in visual and auditory function

• Nervous and vestibular systems

• Chronic disease

• Parkinson’s disease

• Degenerative joint disease

• Cognitive impairment

• Acute illness: non-specific presentations of disease

• Medication use

Culture Of Safety• Safety is not a therapy program,• It is not a program at all• It is a culture that we are all responsible for

• Every one of us is a part of the answer

• How can we make __________________ a safer environment for everyone• Public areas• Your own personal living space• Dining Areas• Indoors and Outdoors

Education• We will begin training every

associate, every resident and every family member beginning today!!

• Monthly Inservice Programs for Residents and Family• Balance • If You Don’t Use It You Lose It• How Not To Be the Leaning Tower of

Posture• . . .

Screening• We will begin a free ongoing

screening program of every resident who desires to have one performed with the prior approval of your physician• Uncovers the subtle causes of losses of

balance with increased risk of fall• Performed on an ongoing basis, since

you may these symptoms may come on at any time in a subtle manner

Treatment• Integrated Balance Therapy• High level evaluative and treatment

techniques to get to the root of the problems that are causing balance problems.

Discussion and Action Plan• Questions and Answers

• Next Steps

• Timetable

• Next Meeting