Ambulation, Balance and Falls in Older Adults

Ambulation, Balance and Falls in Older Adults is organized by HomeCEU. This Course has been approved for a maximum of 3 Contact Hours.

Description:
Rehabilitation professionals evaluate and treat older adults in a variety of settings. One of the common factors across all settings is that with aging changes are seen in gait and balance. These changes place older adults at an increased risk for falls.  It is critical that rehabilitation professionals have an understanding of these changes that occur so that they can properly evaluate and treat these patients, ultimately minimizing fall risk.

This course will discuss fall risk factors and assessment of these factors including the most appropriate standardized assessments to be utilized. It will also explore interventions with emphasis not only on therapeutic exercise but on assistive devices, medications, and environmental modifications as well.

Course Goals:
This course is intended to instruct the professional a thorough understanding of how aging affects gait and balance and ultimately fall risk. As well, all clinicians will then have a thorough understanding of what are the most appropriate assessments and interventions for these individuals so that outcomes can be maximized.

Professional Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Identify 3 common gait changes in older adults
• Identify 3 situations or obstacles that are encountered with functional or community ambulation but not ambulation in healthcare settings.
• Identify 2 of the most common standardized assessments used to assess gait in older adults.
• Identify 3 specific interventions that are recommended when treating gait impairments in older adults.
• Identify 3 common fall risk factors in older adults (intrinsic or extrinsic)
• Recognize 2 different strategies that are used when a loss of balance or a disturbance of the base of support has occurred.
• List one system of the body that require thorough assessment in older adults with balance impairments and one commonly used standardized assessment for these individuals.
• Identify one tool that can be used to assess fear of falling in older adults
• List one common fall risk factor in older adults and list two ways in which you could address this risk factor.
• List 2 environmental modifications that will help reduce fall risk in older adults