Fall Prevention in Rehabilitation Hospitals

Id 15
Topic Elderly
Main Speaker Peii Chen USA
Co Speakers Mooyeon Oh-Park USA
Attendees
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In-hospital falls result in significant physical and economic burdens to patients (increased injury and mortality rates, and decreased quality of life) as well as to healthcare organizations (increased lengths of stay, care costs, and litigation). Older adults and stroke survivors are at a high risk of in-hospital falls due to decreased cognitive and motor abilities, such as insuAicient allocation of spatial attention, reduced processing speed in stimulus detection and response execution, ineAicient gait patterns, and impaired balance mechanisms during standing, walking, or surface transfers.

Current in-hospital fall prevention is focused on monitoring and supervision. Fall alarms can alert others that a person has fallen and needs help, or a person may fall and needs to be monitored (e.g., a person trying to get out of bed or room). Some alarm sensors are attached to furniture, and others are wearables that sense changes in the person’s position. In hospital settings, much has been invested in techniques (e.g., colored wrist band to notify hospital staA of patients with high fall risks) and technologies (e.g., near fall detectors, 24/7 surveillance cameras installed in patients’ rooms). However, based on the latest Cochrane review and scoping review, there is no method that eAectively prevent falls in healthcare facilities or hospital settings.