Introduction
As people age, their bodies become frailer and they gradually lose stability. This process leads to a high number of fall-related injuries and deaths among adults 65 years and older, costing over $30 bill. annually for U.S. citizens alone (Stevens, 2013). The two articles by Stevens and Phelan propose the Stop Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) tool kit – a list of resources essential for healthcare providers to consider when dealing with older patients. This paper will overview the STEADI tool kit and discuss three themes related to the topic of fall prevention.
Articles Review
The articles discuss the STEADI tool kit that aims to provide assistance to healthcare facilities that struggle to address fall-related injuries adequately. This project was developed in the early 2010s, although it is based on concepts proposed in Wagner’s Chronic Care Model from 1998 and the Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model from 1997 (Stevens & Phelan, 2013). The tool kit’s overarching theme is the incorporation of evidence-based solutions into fall prevention methods. The STEADI components were created with the help of experts in fall prevention among older adults and nationally recognized geriatricians (Stevens & Phelan, 2013). The authors’ input gave modern healthcare facilities an excellent opportunity to drastically reduce the number of falls in the long term.
Themes Discussion
There are three distinct themes that can be derived from the articles and support further research. First of all, the impact of falls on the well-being of older adults cannot be underestimated for the sake of public health. Not only does this problem strain the healthcare system, but it also causes the loss of life among older people, with over 20,000 deaths occurring in 2012 (Stevens & Phelan, 2013). There is a growing percentage of older adults in the United States who suffer from at least one fall in a year, indicating that the existing measures were insufficient (Stevens & Phelan, 2013). The change in direction is necessary, and the tool kit provides a risk assessment to understand the exact impact of the issue on a patient’s wellbeing.
Articles regarding falls often discuss possible ways to reduce the occurrence of this type of incident. Steven’s works provide a solid basis for action, yet more recent studies reveal additional evidence for alleviating the problem. For example, Carlucci et al. (2018) propose a program that promotes “joyous” physical exercises to prevent older adults from associating “movement with pain, injury, or embarrassment” (p. 2). Patients’ knowledge also plays a vital part in reducing their chances of falls. A short education course can decrease the chances of suffering from fall-related trauma by over thirteen percent (Jie & Deng, 2019). Promoting such practices is one of the key goals of STEADI, which can be further modified in accordance with the latest evidence for maximum efficiency.
The tool kit also highlights that it is vital to provide necessary assistance to people at risk of fall-related traumas. This goal can be achieved by referring high-risk individuals to physical therapy sessions designed to upkeep sufficient body movement capabilities before balance and coordination issues cause any traumas (Carlucci et al., 2018; Stevens, 2013). Referrals to local community-based therapies satisfy the need for physical activities among older adults, but physicians must be knowledgeable about such opportunities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the STEADI tool kit is a comprehensive solution to a major healthcare crisis and needs to be incorporated into all facilities that deal with older adults. Stevens, alongside numerous experts, has built a system that considers all recognized factors affecting the change of fall traumas, as well as eliminates barriers to efficient fall prevention. The tool kit is easily modifiable and can be updated with numerous new evidence-based practices that are proven to be efficient in their proposed task.
References
Carlucci, C., Kardachi, J., Bradley, S. M., Prager, J., Wyka, K., & Jayasinghe, N. (2018). Evaluation of a community-based program that integrates joyful movement into fall prevention for older adults. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 4, 233372141877678. Web.
Jie, E., & Deng, J. (2019). Fall prevention education reduces the falling rate on the osteoporosis patients treated with Zoledronic acid. Case Reports in Clinical Medicine, 8(8), 222-230. Web.
Stevens, J. A. (2013). The STEADI tool kit: A fall prevention resource for health care providers. IHS Primary Care Provider, 39(9), 162-166. Web.
Stevens, J. A., & Phelan, E. A. (2013). Development of STEADI: A fall prevention resource for health care providers. Health Promotion Practice, 14(5), 706-714. Web.