Stopping Falls: A United Initiative among Physical Therapy Educators

Abstract

Aims

Falls are not a normal part of aging and pose a significant health risk to older adults. Physical therapists have a role in fall risk management. Preparation to manage falls varies across Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curricula. This paper describes how six DPT programs integrated community-based fall prevention through the STOP (Screen one-Thousand Older adults to Prevent) Falls initiative.

Methods

STOP Falls was collaboration among DPT faculty to integrate community-based fall risk screening into curricula using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injury (STEADI) initiative.

Results

Activities included screenings in nine different geriatric and clinical education courses, one interprofessional activity, and five service activities. Students reported benefits from participation and valued older adult interactions. Seven faculty, 228 students, and 27 community/clinical partners screened 605 older adults.

Conclusions

Collaborative community-based fall prevention initiatives can be incorporated into DPT curricula.

Keywords:

• Falls
• Geriatric
• Curriculum
• Implementation
• Physical Therapy

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the individuals and organizations that supported the STOP Falls initiative.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.