Fall Prevention Project

1. To develop and teach interdisciplinary courses on falls and fall prevention for health professionals and health care students in:
   • fall risk factors
   • consequences of falls
   • balance assessment
   • fall prevention
   • rehabilitation strategies for older adults who have fallen
   
    
2. To develop and distribute educational materials on falls and fall prevention for both academically- and clinically-based health care professionals, including:
   • a videotape demonstrating and discussing 3 balance assessments
   • a manual for development of fall prevention programs

 
3. To develop and distribute consumer-oriented fall prevention literature in multiple languages

 
4. To disseminate information to older adults and health care professional directly, both locally and nationally, through various means including:
   • presentations
   • publications
   • broadcast media
   • electronic media
   • individually, concurrent with balance testing
     

"In-Home Safety Check" and "Check It Out". These brochures on home safety tips, causes of falls and prevention are available in English, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, French, Chinese and Vietnamese.  Single copies of these brochures are available without charge.  Forward your request via email to rnewton@temple.edu.  Be sure to specify which language(s) you wish and include:

• Your Name
• Street Address
• City, State, Zip Code

Other Resources on Fall Prevention and Aging for the Consumer

These other resources include additional information of interest to older adults and their families about fall prevention and aging.

Fall Prevention Program Manual

This manual provides guidelines and information to assist both current and retired health care professionals in developing presentations on fall prevention for community-dwelling older adults.  Such talks, prepared using this manual, are one method to increase awareness about falls and fall prevention. 

Balance Testing in Older Adults Video

This videotape introduces 3 balance tests used by health care professionals to detect, rehabilitate and reduce falls in older adults.  Administration of the Timed Up & Go Test, the Multi-Directional Reach Test, and the Berg Balance Test are demonstrated and examined.  Additional details and discussion of these tests are presented in the accompanying manual "Testing Balance in Older Adults".   A single copy of the video is available to a facility (only one copy per facility, please) at no charge, while supplies last.

"In-Home Safety Check" and "Check It Out"

These consumer-oriented brochures on home safety tips, causes of falls and prevention are available in in English, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, French, Chinese and Vietnamese.  Single copies of these brochures are available without charge.  Organizations and agencies are welcome to make additional copies of these brochures for distribution to patients, their families and caregivers, provided that the content is unchanged and complete.  Space has been provided on the reverse of each brochure for a stamp or label giving your local contact information.

Forward your e-mail request for any of the above items to rnewton@temple.edu.  Be sure to specify which language(s) you wish and include:

• your name
• title and credentials, if appropriate
• facility or organization name
• street address
• city, state, zip code
• facility telephone number and extension

An online course, Falls in Older Adults: Causes, an Evidence Based Review is available. This is the first in a series of educational modules on falls, their assessment and reduction/prevention. Additional educational modules related to Older Adult Foot Health and Assessment are also available. Click Here then click on the Course button and select the course you would like to review.