Healthy Steps for Older Adults (HSOA)
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Healthy Steps for Older Adults (HSOA), a program for adults ages 50 years and older and adults of any age with a disability, provides screening, assessment, and education to reduce the incidence of falls. The 4-hour intervention is offered to interested individuals at senior centers and allied sites. This intervention is done in three steps. First, participants complete a screening questionnaire regarding their current physical activity level or any challenges they encounter. Second, participants complete a series of fall risk assessments. After completion of these two assessments, participants are given an age- and gender-adjusted score indicating their fall risk. Thirdly, participants them complete a 2.5 hour workshop educating them about various aspects of fall prevention. This can include: home safety modifications, safe footwear, nutrition, exercise, medication management, and communication. Participants are given suggestions for an appropriate exercise program that can help prevent falls, based on their current fitness level and fall risk. With signed permission, HSOA staff notify participant's physician about his or her fall risk, which can help continue the prevention program. Participants are contacted after 4 weeks to determine if any changes are adopted based on the intervention.
Goal / Mission
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging offers this fall risk screening and prevention program to adults 50 years of age and older. The program is designed to raise awareness of falls, introduce steps on how to reduce falls, improve overall health, and provide referrals and resources.
Results / Accomplishments
From 2010 to 2011, older adults who completed participation in HSOA (n = 814), or who did not but attended the same senior center sites (n = 1019), were enrolled and followed monthly for up to 12 months. Falls were defined as any occasion when an individual ended up on the floor or ground without being able to stop or prevent it. In multivariate models, adjusted falls incidence rate ratios among HSOA participants were lower than in the comparator group for both total (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.72-0.96) and activity-adjusted (IRR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70-0.93) months of follow-up. Additionally, using ED visits related to falls, HSOA was associated with reduced rates of ED treatment and hospitalization. The proportion reporting at least 2 falls was higher in the comparison arm than in individuals completing HSOA (14.4% vs 11.5%), and HSOA participants had less hospital care among individuals with 2 or more falls (16.3% vs 24.8%). The result was lower costs for HSOA participants. The expected costs per participant were $3013 in the HSOA arm and $3853 in the comparison condition
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Primary Contact
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Pennsylvania Department of Aging, 555 Walnut Street, 5th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101-1919
(717) 783-1550
aging@pa.gov
https://www.aging.pa.gov/aging-services/health-wel...
Pennsylvania Department of Aging, 555 Walnut Street, 5th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101-1919
(717) 783-1550
aging@pa.gov
https://www.aging.pa.gov/aging-services/health-wel...
Topics
Community / Public Safety
Health / Older Adults
Community / Social Environment
Health / Older Adults
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Date of publication
10/14/2016
Location
Pennsylvania
For more details
https://www.ajmc.com/view/cost-effectiveness-of-a-...
https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2017-...
https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2017-...
Target Audience
Older Adults