Home safety evaluations performed by an OT significantly decrease fall risk among at-risk seniors. 

• Appeadu, M. K. (2023, June 4). Falls and fall prevention in the elderly. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560761/

• Espiritu, E., & Peterson, E. (2020). Occupational therapy fall prevention: Assessment and intervention strategies for community-dwelling older adults. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(4), 1-11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29953828/

• Gillespie, L. D., Robertson, M. C., Gillespie, W. J., Sherrington, C., Gates, S., Clemson, L., & Lamb, S. E. (2012). Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. The Cochrane Library, 2021(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd007146.pub3

• Karlsson, M. K., Vonschewelov, T., Karlsson, C., Cöster, M., & Rosengen, B. E. (2013). Prevention of falls in the elderly: A review. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 41(5), 442–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494813483215

• Stark, S. (2022, August 2). How removing hazards from the home using HARP can prevent falls. National Council on Aging. https://www.ncoa.org/article/how-removing-hazards-from-the-home-using-harp-can-prevent-falls

• Stevens, J. A. (2010). A CDC compendium of effective fall interventions: what works for community-dwelling older adults. 2nd edition. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/25333

• Stevens, J. A., & Lee, R. (2018). The potential to reduce falls and avert costs by clinically managing fall risk. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55(3), 290–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.04.035

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The CDC recommends OT home evaluations as part of a comprehensive fall prevention program.

• CDC. (2021). Coordinated care plan to prevent older adult falls. (17, 38, 46-49). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/Steadi-Coordinated-Care-Plan.pdf

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Occupational therapists educate clients on environmental modification and activity adaptations to decrease fatigue and joint pain. 

• Hand, C., Law, M., & McColl, M. A. (2011). Occupational therapy interventions for chronic diseases: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(4), 428–436. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2011.002071

 

90% of houses do not meet minimal accessibility standards for seniors and people with disabilities. 

• U.S. Census Bureau. (2021, October 8). Is America’s housing ready for an aging population? Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/06/old-housing-new-needs.html

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