Falls in Older People

“My first introduction to Rein was through Falls in Older People: Prevention and Management, 2nd edition, subsequently interacting with him professionally on a few fall prevention advisory panels. Throughout the our relationship I have remained in awe of his single-minded focus on reducing the incidence of falls among our most vulnerable older adults, those in unfamiliar surroundings such as hospitals and long term care facilities. The general lack of effective inpatient and long term care facility fall prevention programs is challenging but should not preclude the implementation of an evidence-informed approach to maintaining a safe environment for older adults. A well educated staff with heightened awareness and standing protocols to promote a safe environment and identification and management of at risk older adults can reduce falls and fall-related injuries. This expanded edition provides the reader with a solid foundation in the basics of aging, fall prevention and the evidence available on preventing falls. It should be the primary handbook of injury prevention/safety personnel in any facility housing older adult clients.”- Bonita Lynn Beattie, PT, MPT, MHA, Vice President, Injury Prevention Falls FreeTM Initiative, National Council on Aging– (03/19/2010)[REVIEWER’S EXPERT OPINION]Sharon G Thomas, BSN(University of Missouri-Columbia)DescriptionThis book provides an understanding of what causes older people to fall, how toprevent falls when possible, and keeping people safe when they do fall. Sincethe book was first published in 1993, there has been an increased emphasis onfall management programs and keeping people safe.PurposeFalls continue to be a common problem in hospitals and nursing facilities. Theyare associated with many negative outcomes, including injury and death. InOctober 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced thatMedicare would no longer pay extra costs for treatment of preventable injuries, which heightened awareness and increased efforts to prevent injuries due tofalls. The book addresses all steps that are necessary to develop and implementa fall prevention program in either the acute or long-term care setting.AudienceIt is targeted specifically at the people in organizations responsible forassessing, planning and implementing a fall prevention and management program, and it is written at a level that can be appreciated by all healthcareprofessionals. Dr. Tideiksaar has been active in the area of fall preventionfor more than 25 years, and serves as an excellent guide to the development ofa fall prevention program.FeaturesOrganized in a very logical manner, the book begins with an understanding offalls and how to manage them. Topics include assessing individuals for fallrisk, assessing the environment, and making changes to increase safety anddecrease risk. The next section discusses how to implement interventions. Dr.Tideiksaar focuses on using evidence-based guidelines and selecting the optionsthat work best in an individual situation. Section three has very practicalresources to be used in assessment, implementation, and evaluation. There arealso forms that can be used for documentation. Pictures and illustrationseducate staff on positioning people properly in chairs and beds.AssessmentThis book brings together many resources, guidelines, and illustrations, some ofwhich are available from other sources, but having them all in one bookincreases efficiency. This fourth edition includes chapters on key processsteps and interventions, organizational requirements, evidence-based practice, and new guidelines that were absent from previous editions. The one thing Iwould change about the book is the binding. It would be easier to use, andwould last longer, if it was spiral bound and could lay flat.———————————————————–Weighted Numerical Score: 84 - 3 Stars– (09/10/2010)Tideiksaar, who is associated with a company that provides educational, legal, and marketing services in connection with fall prevention for older adults, offers a guide for nursing and direct care providers, geriatricians, administrators, allied health professionals, and professional and family caregivers to preventing and managing falls in older people in acute and long-term care settings. He addresses the underlying causes and how to develop and maintain a fall managementprogram, including medical, rehabilitative, and environmental strategies, and issues relating to restraints. This edition has updated chapters and exercises, with chapters on key process steps and interventions, organizational requirements and evidence-based practice, and new guidelines and forms for prevention programs.– (09/01/2010)“Dr. Tideiksaar has been active in the area of fall prevention for more than 25 years, and serves as an excellent guide to the development of a fall prevention program.”– (09/10/2010)“For those of us who work in Fall Prevention we are fortunate to add to our resources another comprehensive, practical, evidence-informed fall prevention guide from the acclaimed author and fall prevention expert - Dr. Rein Tideiksaar. I am pleased to endorse this solid piece of work that focuses on an often overlooked population - health care providers who care for older persons in hospitals and nursing facilities. This fourth edition builds on a solid foundation of evidence on the causes and prevention falls and translates this knowledge into practical solutions in the form of assessment tools, care plans and detailed strategies for the application of least restraint policies, hip protectors, monitoring strategies, environmental modifications, discharge planning, and many others. A great strength of this book is the clear depiction of how proven strategies for prevention can be integrated into daily routine of health care providers in institutional settings. The book concludes with a useful set of case studies to help reinforce the wealth of new information and a series of answers to frequently asked questions sent to Dr. Tideiksaar over the years. This book is a must for all care settings for older adults.”– (03/12/2010)Health. FALLS IN OLDER PEOPLE: PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT by Rein Tideiksaar (Health Professions Press, 312 pages, softcover, $34.95, 978-1-932529-44-9): Written primarily for direct care and nursing staff, and others who participate in care and planning for the care of elderly people, this book thoroughly covers falls and their prevention. Nearly half of the book, which is now in its fourth edition, is devoted to resources: assessment tools, best management practices, home safety guidelines, and checklists.– (06/03/2010)

Rein Tideiksaar, PhD, is the president of fallPREVENT and has been active in the area of fall prevention for over fifteen years. He has directed numerous research projects on falls and has developed fall prevention programs in the community, assisted living, home care, acute care hospital, and nursing facility setting. Dr. Tideiksaar has written numerous articles and book chapters on falls and related topics.