Do Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists Teach Elderly People How to Rise after a Fall?

Abstract

Falling is a major problem for the elderly population and much research has been done to investigate the risk factors for and means of preventing falls. However, very little research has been carried out looking at if and how therapists teach elderly people how to rise after a fall. This postal survey was undertaken to investigate whether therapists do anything to try to prevent falls, assess elderly people for suitability and teach them how to rise after a fall. The results showed that almost all the respondents (127 of 137) identified falling as a problem that they had to deal with in their patients over 65 years. The main focus of occupational therapists was to prevent falls by making environmental changes (for example, removing hazards) whereas physiotherapists were involved in physical changes (for example, balance training). Over half the respondents had considered teaching people how to rise after a fall. A range of different methods was used, which broadly fell into physical and verbal instructions or referral to other health care professionals. The sources of knowledge for teaching how to rise after a fall came mainly from previous clinical experience. Falls are an acknowledged problem in the elderly population and among these hospital and community based therapists about half had considered teaching or had taught elderly people how to rise after a fall.

Older people as partners in assistive technology research: The use of focus groups in the design process

“…The mobility of older people is a concern for health care providers, particularly in relation to falls [20,21]. Recent research, undertaken for the Department of Trade and Industry in the United Kingdom, on falls on stairs and steps in the home shows that two thirds of the deaths and very serious injuries resulting from falls happen to people over the age of 65 [22,23].…”

Interdisciplinary Collaborative Goal Planning in a Post-Acute Neurological Setting: A Qualitative Study

“…However, the idea of an interdisciplinary approach could be more complex, involving questions of role responsibilities, role boundaries and role blurring. In some areas of practice, the unique contribution offered by occupational therapists has required further definition and has resulted in literature emphasising the need for role clarification and for the recognition of the specialist skills of occupational therapy (Brown and Greenwood 1999, Taylor and Rubin 1999, Kinn and Galloway 2000, Parker 2001). Understanding the roles of different disciplines and recognising the contribution of each member of the team are also emphasised in the literature in order to enhance coordination and consistency of approach (Canning and Westwood 1990, Mandy 1996, Serio et al 1997.…”

Older People and Mobility in the Home: in Search of Useful Assistive Technologies

“…The mobility of older people is a concern for occupational therapists, particularly in relation to falls (Ballinger andPayne 2000, Kinn andGalloway 2000). Recent research undertaken for the Department of Trade and Industry on falls on stairs and steps in the home showed that two-thirds of the deaths and very serious injuries resulting from falls occurred to people over the age of 65 years (DTI 2000, Hill et al 2000.…”