Date: July 22, 2005
Contact: Barbara Schoof Conant
barbaraconant@aging.state.ks.us
Director of Communications
(785) 296-6154
Working in cooperation with nursing home administrators, the Kansas Department on Aging has developed a set of protocols designed to reduce falls among elderly residents in nursing facilities. Developed by the KDOA Quality Practice Work Group, the guidelines are intended for voluntary use by the state’s nursing facilities to identify and communicate best practices for the management of falls.
The group’s collaborative efforts will provide nursing facilities with tangible tools, such as sample forms and suggestions for tracking data, as well as guidelines for modifications in policies.
KDOA Secretary Pamela Johnson-Betts said falls are the leading cause of injury and death among elderly residents of nursing facilities. It is estimated that nationally 50 percent of residents fall each year with 10 percent resulting in serious injury, especially hip fractures.
“The result of the work group’s collaboration clearly demonstrates that when KDOA and the nursing facilities join ranks on an issue the outcome is optimal for all involved,” said Johnson-Betts. “Residents of the nursing facilities benefit the most from the improved environment and are the real winners of this collaboration.”
The guidelines will be tested among 10 Kansas nursing facilities to assess the effectiveness of the process and materials. The homes will participate on a voluntary basis under the direction of Dr. Sarah Forbes-Thompson, associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. The group will implement the practice guidelines within their respective facilities. Evaluation of the pilot study will allow for constructive analysis of the benefits of this process.
Johnson-Betts said the effectiveness of the tools developed by the work group’s collaborative efforts are measurable.
“Process indicators are very important for tracking a decrease in the number of falls among residents,” she said. “While these tools will not be used as survey criteria, we expect to see a reduction in ‘serious harm’ deficiencies among the facilities utilizing the tools.”
Johnson-Betts added that reducing the number of falls among residents is just the beginning of collaborative efforts between the KDOA and nursing facilities to support quality environments for residents.
“This is not a short-term project, but rather a long-term commitment to improvement and quality care,” she said. “We will continue to identify and develop quality practice guidelines for complex care issues.”
Members of the Quality Practice Work Group: