Author Description

This lesson on <b>Preventing Falls in the Home</b> includes a complete training packet. Each in-service packet takes approximately one hour to complete and fully meets the Medicare in-service training requirements. As aides need training, you can make as many copies as you want - there's no restriction when used with aides assigned from your office location. Remember that Home Health Aides must have 12 hours of in-service training every year. <p><b>LESSON OBJECTIVES</b><br> <br> Upon completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to:</p> <p>* Identify four variables that increase the likelihood of falls<br> <br> * List three common hazards in the home that may lead to falls<br> <br> * Explain the actions to take when a patient falls in the home.</p> <p><b>LESSON OVERVIEW</b><br> <br> According to multiple studies, nearly a third of all people who are over the age of 65, and who live at home, fall. Among those who do fall, half will fall again. A previous fall seems to be a big predictor of the likelihood of another fall. There are many factors that predispose people to falls. These include the use of assistive devices, hazards within the home, chronic illnesses, problems with gait and balance, urinary incontinence, and visual impairments. Most homecare patients receiving home health aide services are in categories which show them to be at high risk for falling.</p> <p>Emergent care for injury caused by fall or accident in the home is one of the adverse event outcomes reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to be evaluated by homecare agencies and to be benchmarked against agencies. It is incumbent on all homecare agencies to take measures to reduce the risk of falling.</p> The topic of falls is important for home health aides for many reasons, including the fact that they typically spend more time in the home than other disciplines. Patients are more likely to demonstrate their normal behavior to the aides than to the professi