Home safety assessment in the prevention of falls among older people

Objective: Home safety assessment was examined as part of a randomised tria l of falls prevention interventions among older community dwellers. Method: Falls prevention strategies, including education and awareness-rais ing, exercise, home modifications and medical assessment, were trialled wit h 252 members of the National Seniors Association. Fails outcomes were moni tored using a daily calendar diary during intervention and follow-up period s. Results: The home assessment group was significantly more likely to modify their home environment than the controls (p<0.0001). Participants, regardle ss of group allocation, reported a significant reduction in concern about f alling (p<0.0001). During the intervention, the home assessment group had l ower incidence rates for falls and injuries than the control group, althoug h differences were not significant. The lowered rates were sustained post-i ntervention. Conclusions: While the effect on falls incidence of a home safety intervent ion on its own could not be demonstrated, other benefits, including improve d confidence attributable to awareness of such falls prevention measures, w ere recorded. Implications: The null effects of home modifications on falls prevention in this study may indicate that the program is more appropriate for the frail aged.