For a Limited Time Only: Free Workshops on Falls Reduction
By Perry Edelman
The Illinois Department of Public Health awarded a grant to Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging to provide falls reduction train-the-trainer workshops for nursing home staff in Illinois. There is no charge for the eight-hour SAFE-TI falls reduction program. Workshops are available to staff from independent living, assisted living, and CCRCs for a nominal fee. CNE credit is available for nurses. The CNE activity is being offered for 6.5 contact hours.
SAFE-TI is a comprehensive, user-friendly, multicomponent program that:
- teaches falls reduction strategies
- provides risk assessments, falls reduction-focused physical exercises, and resident and family falls reduction education
- integrates with nursing homes’ quality improvement processes
- evaluates falls reduction program success and effectiveness
SAFE-TI has been pilot-tested successfully in nursing homes and other older adult communities. Under the current grant, SAFE-TI has been shown to significantly increase staff knowledge about falls and falls reduction strategies. The goal of the program is to reduce resident falls by 15%.
SAFE-TI includes a multicomponent tool kit consisting of 1) falls-risk assessment tools; 2) geriatric and medication assessment tools; 3) environmental assessment; 4) educational materials for staff, residents, and families; 5) recommended individualized interventions, exercises, and training; and 6) a falls tracking tool. The program was designed using evidence-based best practices developed from research conducted in LTC settings and guidelines by the American Geriatrics Society.
Rush University College of Nursing provides the continuing nursing education and is approved by the Illinois Nurses Association; accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
To attend a SAFE-TI falls reduction train-the-trainer workshop and to participate in our study, please e-mail kdeng@matherlifeways.com or call (847) 492.6775.
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