Functional Fitness for Falls Prevention Course Development and Pilot Phase

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1 Course Development and Pilot Phase Clara Fitzgerald Program Director Chelsie Free Kinesiologist & Leadership Educator

2 The CCAA A national research & education centre within the Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario.

3 Our Mission To develop, encourage and promote an active, healthy lifestyle for Canadian adults that will enhance the dignity of the aging process

4 What We Do Research Knowledge Translation Education and Training Model Physical Activity Programs Program delivery to older people Evaluation

5 CCAA s Functional Fitness for Falls Prevention (FFFP) Training

6 Funding Partial funding from Ontario MoHP Healthy Communities Fund Provincial Address 2 risk factors Injury Prevention & Physical Activity Reach all 4 Ministry Regions

7 FFFP Project Description One-day FFFP training for care facility staff Four regions of Ontario Increase staff knowledge regarding impact of physical activity on seniors falling Reduce fall rates in Ontario retirement residences over the long term

8 Ministry Regions in Ontario North Region Sudbury East Region Peterborough West Region London Central Region Mississauga

9 Project Goals: 1. Improve knowledge of fall risk factors & how to modify them 2. Provide skills and knowledge to screen individuals to determine fall risk level 3. Increase use of FP exercise programming to reduce falls 4. Influence burden that falling has on health care system 5. Increase the overall fitness and health of seniors 6. Help seniors prolong functional independence & delay LTC admission

10 FFFP Content Functional Fitness for Older Adults overview Falls & Seniors: information overview Fall Risk Factors & Risk Management Fall-Risk screening tools & Gait analysis Falls prevention exercise programming guidelines for development, implementation, evaluation, goal setting, follow up, buy-in etc. Sample 30min FFFP exercise session

11 Outcomes To Date... Total of 136 individuals trained Pre Survey Results indicated majority of participants had limited FP background 1/3 had none of those who did, only 35% indicated a focus was on PA 96% have seen a fall within the last 6 mos 32% seeing 20 or more falls in 6 mos 45% report fallers unable to reach pre-fall functional level Overall Feedback (based on end-of-course evaluation survey) Good course organization, information and materials Follow up survey scheduled for Fall 2010

12 Lessons Learned Difficult to target a specific staff population within seniors care niche (interest in FP from all areas of care) Ensure host facilities can comfortably accommodate full day training Offer courses in smaller numbers (20 max) Include more group work, discussion and hands-on learning

13 Future Implications Follow up with pilot participants to gauge impact of FFFP (Survey scheduled for Fall 2010) Will offer FFFP within standard CCAA course offerings Expand FFFP course Nationally Move toward outcome-based falls prevention exercise programs in all senior care settings in an effort to improve functional independence of older adults and reduce overall fall rates

14 Contact Information: Websites: CCAA Main - Courses - Clara Fitzgerald cfitzge4@uwo.ca Chelsie Free cfree2@uwo.ca

15 Thanks to Our Partners! Ministry of Health Promotion