Stay on Your Feet

Background

Program Goals:

To increase awareness that falls are preventable and not just a sign of aging; To decrease the number and severity of injuries resulting from falls experienced by older adults using multifaceted and measurable interventions that are also cost-effective and sustainable

Intent:

Unintentional

Risk Factors Addressed:

Inappropriate Footwear; Poor Vision; Balance/Gait Problems; Medication Use; Underlying Medical Conditions; Insufficient Exercise; Environmental Hazards

Place of occurrence:

Home; Community Care Facilities

Age/Age Range:

Seniors; Older Adults (55 + years)

Other Population Characteristics:

Increased susceptibility to injury; Lower Rate of Recovery

Resources

Year Developed:

1992 (in Australia)

Collaborative Organization(s):

Community Health Education Groups (CHEGS);
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council  

Funding Resource(s):

Community Networks (Government Agencies, Health Promotion Agencies, Medical organizations, NGO’s focused on senior’s health); External Funding Grant

Costs:

$678 703 for the first 5 years of the SOYF program (excluding major costs incurred by local health units and health programmes and selective advertising using specialty products)

Implementation

Context/Setting

Community-Based Prevention/Intervention Program

Strategies Used:

Education, Engineering (Product/Environment Modification)

Activities Used:

Selective Advertising using specialty products; Mass Media Campaigns; Distribution of educational material (pamphlets, manuals, booklets); Partnerships with General Practitioners, other health professionals and local health workers; Partnerships with Local Government; Workshops and Training Sessions regarding home modifications and appropriate exercises 

Program Evaluation:

Annual reach surveys of the sample (intervention area) population; Pre-, mid- and post- telephone surveys of knowledge, attitudes and prevalence of risk behaviours in the matched control and sample populations; Pre- and post- surveys of local government policies and practices within the intervention area; Comparison of hospital records (admissions) between the matched control and sample intervention areas 

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R. & Lewko, J. (2004). Preventing Neurotrauma: A Casebook of Evidence-Based Practices. Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.

Original Source:

Kempton et al. 1992. Stay on Your Feet 1992-1995. A Falls Prevention Programme for Older People by Older People. North Coast Public Health Unit. Lismore.

Supplementary Material:

N/A

Local Example(s):

[Kingston, Elliot Lake,  Grey-Bruce, give local contact info]

Contact Information (if any):   

Eric van Beurden, PhD, Research and Evaluation Coordinator
Health Promotion Unit,
Northern Rivers Area Health Service/Southern Cross Institute of Health Research
31 Uralba Street,  PO Box 498
Lismore, NSW 2480, AUSTRALIA
Tel: 0266 202553 ~ Fax: 0266 222151 ~ Email: evanb@doh.health.nsw.gov.au 

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

Increased understanding of falls and falls knowledge within the community; Adoption of the SOYF programme within local health programmes by other health agencies in Australia and internationally

Short-term outcomes:

Success in program reach – Increased number of participants reporting awareness of aspects of the media campaign (via newspaper, TV or radio); Number of injuries resulting from falls decreased – Associated decreased in fall-related hospitalizations by 20% in 5 years

Cost-Effectiveness:

Relatively easily incorporated into existing health network frameworks with some (not exorbitant) additional funding necessary due to special classes and media campaigns; Sustainable

Other Benefits:

Significant increases in overall community awareness of risk factors for falls, that these risk factors can successfully be minimized, and, therefore, that falls in seniors are largely preventable

Other

Date of Review:

posted November 2006

Classification:

Best Practice