Successful Falls Prevention Programming for Older Adults in Texas

Family &Amp; Community Health

Jiang

Ory

2012

Self Cite

Grand-scale community rollouts of evidence-based programs seldom have the capacity to examine long-term sustainability of beneficial effects among older adults. This study examined the effectiveness of A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader Model, an evidence-based fall risk reduction program, to sustain fall-related efficacy improvements among 282 older adult participants using data collected at 3 time points: baseline, postintervention, and 6-month follow-up. A linear mixed model and multilevel logistic regression models were used. Falls Efficacy Scale and individual item scores significantly increased from baseline to postintervention. While most efficacy-related scores tapered after postintervention, all changes remained significant at 6-month follow-up.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Falls Efficacy Among Older Adults Enrolled in an Evidence-Based Program to Reduce Fall-Related Risk

Family &Amp; Community Health

Jiang

Ory

2012

Self Cite

“…At the time of this study, The Texas Falls Prevention Coalition had introduced AMOB/VLL as a community-based falls prevention program throughout the state with dissemination by the [26][27][28].…”

Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Programmatic influences on outcomes of an evidence-based fall prevention program for older adults: a translational assessment

Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res.

Hochhalter

Cheng

et al. 2011

Self Cite

Investigating the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based health-promotion programs to reach large numbers of diverse older adults is needed. The purpose of this study is to examine relationships between class size and session attendance and assess differences in intervention outcomes based on these community-based fall prevention program characteristics. Pre-post data were analyzed from 2,056 falls prevention program participants. PROC MIXED for repeated measures and ordinary least squares regressions were employed. Approximately 32% of participants enrolled in recommended class sizes (eight to 12 participants) and 76.4% of enrolled seniors attended more than five of eight sessions. Enrolling in smaller class sizes was associated with higher class attendance (X 2 =43.43, p<0.001). Recommended class sizes and those with 13-20 participants reported significant improvements in falls efficacy and physical activity. Perfect attendance was associated with improvements in falls efficacy (t=2.52, p<0.05) and activity limitation (t=−2.66, p<0.01). Findings can inform fall prevention program developers and lay leader deliverers about ideal class sizes relative to maximum intervention benefits and cost efficiency.

“…Offering prevention programs such as those focusing on chronic disease self-management, fall prevention, and physical activity within this service infrastructure brings these services closer to participants’ homes and has potential to reduce travel-related attrition due to distance [25]. Further, these programs have shown to reach diverse populations [23,26], improve health status indicators [48,49], and increase physical functioning and mobility [50].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Needs of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Rural-Urban Comparison in Delaware, USA

Prohaska

MacLeod

et al. 2017

IJERPH

Background: Older adults in rural areas have unique transportation barriers to accessing medical care, which include a lack of mass transit options and considerable distances to health-related services. This study contrasts non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service utilization patterns and associated costs for Medicaid middle-aged and older adults in rural versus urban areas. Methods: Data were analyzed from 39,194 NEMT users of LogistiCare-brokered services in Delaware residing in rural (68.3%) and urban (30.9%) areas. Multivariable logistic analyses compared trip characteristics by rurality designation. Results: Rural (37.2%) and urban (41.2%) participants used services more frequently for dialysis than for any other medical concern. Older age and personal accompaniment were more common and wheel chair use was less common for rural trips. The mean cost per trip was greater for rural users (difference of $2910 per trip), which was attributed to the greater distance per trip in rural areas. Conclusions: Among a sample who were eligible for subsidized NEMT and who utilized this service, rural trips tended to be longer and, therefore, higher in cost. Over 50% of trips were made for dialysis highlighting the need to address prevention and, potentially, health service improvements for rural dialysis patients.