Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative - Evidence Based Interventions

Keeping Minnesotans Right Side Up

Evidence-based health promotion interventions have been proven to produce a desired health outcome in participants. There are several programs that have a strong science base and a successful track record of implementation in community organizations serving older adults. View list of programs with a strong science base.

The Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative hosted a pre-conference session on falls prevention at the Age and Disabilities Odyssey Conference on August 20, 2007. In addition, three workshops were held during the conference on topics related to falls prevention. The following powerpoint presentations were shared at the sessions.

Falls Prevention Pre-Conference Session

Introduction (ppt)
Kari Benson, MA, Minnesota Board on Aging (mp3, 1 min)
Pam Van Zyl York, MPH, PhD, RD, LN, Minnesota Department of Health (mp3, 20 min)

Summary of new Minnesota falls statistics
Link between chronic disease management and falls prevention
Overview of Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative

An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Falls Assessment (ppt) (mp3, 53 min)
Mary Russell, PT, Fairview Home Care and Hospice
Ericka E. Tung, MD, Mayo Clinic

Fall risk factors
American Geriatrics Society 2001 Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls in Older Persons
Screening
Assessment - one fall, more than one fall
Multi-factorial falls assessment and individualized intervention
Roles of health care and social services professionals

Showcase of Minnesota Models

Kris Gjerde, PT, Minnesota Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association

Stand Up and Be Strong Program (ppt) (mp3, 10 min)

Mary Visser, PhD, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Partners in Active Living for Seniors (PALS) Program (ppt) (mp3, 9 min)

Community-Based Falls Prevention

Community-Based Falls Prevention (ppt)(mp3,10 min)
Pam Van Zyl York, MPH, PhD, RD, LN, Minnesota Department of Health

Falls Prevention Points of Intervention Continuum
Call to Action

Falls Prevention Workshops

Falls in Minnesota: Facts on Prevalence, Impact and Effective Prevention (ppt)
Heather Day, RN, MPH, Minnesota Department of Health
Pam Van Zyl York, MPH, PhD, RD, LN, Minnesota Department of Health

New Minnesota injury and falls statistics
Link between chronic diseases and falls
Overview of Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative

Olmsted County Falls Prevention Coalition: Creating a Falls Prevention Coalition in Your Community (ppt)
Daniel Jensen, Olmsted County Preventive Health Services
Corrine Erickson, Olmsted County Home & Community Care

Community assessment
Priority setting - development of mission and objectives
Coalition development
Strategy development process: define systems and identify gaps, review weaknesses, construct strategies to close the loops, develop/find resources to support strategies, build communication and interfaces, and evaluation
Coalition strategies: community education, facilitation of first responder to physician communication, and home safety inspection

Falls Prevention Strategies for Your Community: Homegrown Models of Excellence

Stand Up and Be Strong (ppt)
Kris Gjerde, PT, Minnesota Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association

Stand Up and Be Strong Program
Measure fall risk due to lower body weakness
Incorporate screening of older adults into existing programs
Understand action steps to reduce fall risk due to lower body weakness
Reach and uptake data

Partners in Active Living for Seniors (ppt)
Pam Determan, VINE Faith in Action
Shirley Murray, MS, LISW, Director, Continuing Education, Minnesota State University, Mankato Mary Visser, PhD, Exercise Physiologist and Associate Professor of Human Performance, Minnesota State University, Mankato