STAYING ACTIVE AND
STAYING ACTIVE &
FALLS FREE WITH
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Header
©Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
WELCOME
• Today’s presenter
– Speaker inserts name, credentials and
contact information here
PRESENTATION GOALS
• By the end of this presentation, you will be
able to:
• Recognize that most falls among older
adults result from interacting risk factors
• Describe how occupational therapy
practitioners can help you reduce your risk
of falls
• Identify strategies and resources that you
can use to reduce your risk for falls.
WHY DO FALLS HAPPEN?
INTERACTING FALLS RISK FACTORS
Most falls experienced by older adults result from
interacting risk factors
• Physical risk factors: Changes in your
body that increase your risk for a fall
• Behavioral risk factors: Things we do or
don’t do that increase our fall risk
• Environmental risk factors: Hazards in our
home or community
WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational therapy practitioners
• Help people of every age do the
things they want and need to do
through the therapeutic use of
everyday activities.
• Focus on daily activities to help
people remain as independent as
possible despite injury, illness, or
disability.
ABOUT OCCUPATIONS
Photograph courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy
• The term “occupation”
refers to a person’s
involvement in
meaningful activities.
• For many, “occupations”
are linked to important
life roles and reflect our
values and identities.
ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN
FALLS PREVENTION
• Occupational therapy
practitioners teach people
who are at risk for falls how
to safely do things that are
important to them.
ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN
FALLS PREVENTION
Photographs courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy
• Occupational therapy
practitioners work with
people after a fallrelated injury to help
them return to the
things they need and
want to do.
ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN
FALLS PREVENTION
Photographs courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy
• Occupational therapy can
focus on:
– Improving skills and
abilities
– Modifying activities to
increase safety
– Changing the environment
to reduce falls risk
MINIMIZING YOUR RISK FACTORS
MINIMIZING YOUR RISK FACTORS WITH
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
PHYSICAL RISK FACTORS:
MEDICATIONS
• Speak with your doctor or
pharmacist about
medications and how they
make you feel.
• Occupational therapy
practitioners can help you
incorporate a medication
plan into your everyday
routine.
PHYSICAL RISK FACTORS: VISION
• Have your vision checked regularly by an eye
doctor
• Occupational therapy practitioners help
people with vision issues by
– Teaching skills and strategies to
complete daily tasks
– Recommending special devices
and products
– Helping to make the home
environment safer
PHYSICAL RISK FACTORS: BALANCE
• The key is to maintain
an active lifestyle.
Photograph courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy
• Occupational therapy
practitioners help
people improve
balance and learn more
about what their bodies
can and cannot do.
BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS
• It is important to stop before an
activity, consider whether or
not it is safe, and make a plan
that reduces your risk of a fall.
• Occupational therapy can help
people determine what is
already safe and make many
other activities as safe as
possible.
BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS
Photograph courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy
What could this woman be
doing differently to put her
at less of a risk for a fall?
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS
What are the fall risks in this bedroom?
Photograph courtesy of AOTA
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS
• An occupational therapy
home safety assessment
involves carefully assessing
a person’s ability and
determining whether the
home environment fits the
person and supports
independence.
FALLS PREVENTION REFLECTION
• What might you do or what have you done
in the past to protect yourself from falls?
• Do you have tips to share that we haven’t
covered?
SUMMARY OF STRATEGIES TO REDUCE
FALLS RISK
– Talk to physicians and pharmacists about
medications
– Get an eye exam regularly
– Maintain a healthy sleep schedule
– Stay active and exercise regularly
– Stay hydrated
– Find alternatives for potentially risky behaviors
– Identify and eliminate fall hazards in the home
CONCLUSION
• Remember…
– Falls can be prevented
– Take charge of your health and utilize your
resources
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AUTHORS
Elizabeth W. Peterson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Clinical Professor
Director of Professional Education
University of Illinois at Chicago
(Bonita) Lynn Beattie, PT, MPT, MHA
Vice President, Injury Prevention
Lead, Falls Free Initiative
Center for Healthy Aging
National Council on Aging
©Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois