1. Falls and Balance in the Elderly Adult Population

2. The problem . . . Falls are: A common health issue
Often have bad outcomes
Can be avoided with change

3. The cost . . .
Creates a substantial
burden on the
healthcare system

4. The cause… Vestibular pathology Visual deficit Muscle weakness
Cognitive impairment
Lack of attention to surroundings

5. Psychological Consequences…
Fear
Decreased quality of life
Self-imposed restriction of activities
Social isolation
Depression

6. What sets us apart from other programs?
Multidisciplinary approach to falls prevention
Audiologists perform diagnostic testing
Physical Therapists perform vestibular rehabilitation as needed
State of the art diagnostic testing to provide patients and physicians with the most comprehensive balance and falls risk assessment available:
Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)
Videonystagmography (VNG)
Rotary Chair

7. What sets us apart from other programs?
Using the information gathered through assessment and testing, a comprehensive rehabilitation program is created that includes:
Postural Training
Re-train the balance system
Strengthen muscles
Restore stability
Symptom management
Increase tolerance for changes in position
Education
Fall prevention and safety

8. The Results
To date we have evaluated close to 350 patients (83% of which were age 60 and above)
Over 75% had symptoms that indicated a need for Vestibular Rehabilitation
Of those completing the full course of Vestibular Rehabilitation with PT:
65% demonstrated significant improvement according to the Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI)
Almost all patients experienced some improvement in their DHI score