Project Purpose
In elderly patients, falls as a multifactorial phenomenon represent a constant health risk. Therefore, a strategy for preventing falls in the target demographic is one of the primary concerns of contemporary nursing. At present, there is a vast range of approaches toward reducing the possibility of a fall, such as removing the clutter and encouraging the elderly to perform physical activities (Renfro, Bainbridge, Smith, 2016). However, even with the specified suggestions, the chance of a fall remains high for elderly patients. Therefore, additional measures need to be taken to address the concern.
Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to study the effects that spatial modifications have on the propensity toward falls among the elderly. Particularly, the project embraces a variety of changes to the physical setting for patients, especially in the realm of a nursing facility. For instance, apart from making rooms more spacious, extra steps for providing support for the elderly will have to be considered. Apart from preventing the scenarios in which a patient trips on the elements of the interior or the walking aid, the suggested approach may also create opportunities for physical exercises. Thus, the paper pursues two key purposes, which are determining the efficacy of spatial modifications and increasing the number of positive patient outcomes among the elderly.
Project Background
The problem of falls among elderly patients has been in existence for a significant amount of time. According to the recent statistical data, falls are especially common in the hospital setting (0.3%-0.5%) (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2017). Particularly, long-term care includes especially many factors that may lead to a fall (Mazur, Wilczyński, & Szewieczek, 2016). Therefore, changes must be made to hospital settings to reduce the threat of a fall and create a platform for a faster recovery among elderly patients.
Currently, the choice of a strategy for preventing falls among the elderly hinges on a range of factors, which range from patient-specific ones to external factors (Sherrington et al., 2016). Traditionally, several types of fall-preventing interventions are used. Cultural interventions are deployed as a part of a patient education program to build awareness among the target demographic. The resulting changes in patients’ behaviors contribute to a rise in safety levels, yet they do not provide complete safety from falling. Clinical interventions, in turn, imply changes in the medications that are administered to patients so that the latter could determine the presence of a threat faster and avoid it (Robalino, Nyakang’o, Beyer, Fox, & Allan, 2018). However, the identified alterations are likely to lead to only minor shifts in inpatient falls dynamics unless spatial improvements are introduced into the range of measures for handling falls (Renfro et al., 2016).
Project Significance
The management of falls among elderly patients is one of the numerous steps toward improving the quality of healthcare and increasing the probability of a positive patient outcome. Thus, it will be reasonable to claim that this project will contribute to the enhancement of care. With a close focus on the physical environment in which elderly patients live, one will be able to create the framework for avoiding falls. In addition, the removal of spatial threats to elderly patients’ well-being will also build the environment in which the target demographic can be physically active. The latter change will also raise the chances of avoiding falls among the elderly. Therefore, the project is likely to make a difference in the identified area of contemporary nursing.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2017). Patient safety primer: Falls. Web.
Mazur, K., Wilczyński, K., & Szewieczek, J. (2016). Geriatric falls in the context of a hospital fall prevention program: Delirium, low body mass index, and other risk factors. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 11, 1253-1261. Web.
Renfro, M., Bainbridge, D. B., & Smith, M. L. (2016). Validation of evidence-based fall prevention programs for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disorders: A modified Otago Exercise Program. Frontiers in Public Health, 4, 261-269. Web.
Robalino, S., Nyakang’o, S. B., Beyer, F. R., Fox, C., & Allan, L. M. (2018). Effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving physical and psychological outcomes of fall-related injuries in people with dementia: A narrative systematic review. Systematic Reviews, 7(1), 31-41. Web.
Sherrington, C., Fairhall, N., Kirkham, C., Clemson, L., Howard, K., Vogler, C.,… Sonnabend, D. (2016). Exercise and fall prevention self-management to reduce mobility-related disability and falls after fall-related lower limb fracture in older people: Protocol for the RESTORE (Recovery Exercises and STepping On afteR fracturE) randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 16(1), 34-43. Web.