1. STAYING ACTIVE AND STAYING ACTIVE & FALLS FREE WITH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Header
©Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

2. WELCOME Today’s presenter
Speaker inserts name, credentials and contact information here

3. PRESENTATION GOALS
By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:
Recognize that most falls among older adults result from interacting risk factors
Describe how occupational therapy practitioners can help you reduce your risk of falls
Identify strategies and resources that you can use to reduce your risk for falls.

4. WHY DO FALLS HAPPEN?

5. INTERACTING FALLS RISK FACTORS
Most falls experienced by older adults result from interacting risk factors
Physical risk factors: Changes in your body that increase your risk for a fall
Behavioral risk factors: Things we do or don’t do that increase our fall risk
Environmental risk factors: Hazards in our home or community

6. WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

7. ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational therapy practitioners
Help people of every age do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.
Focus on daily activities to help people remain as independent as possible despite injury, illness, or disability.

8. ABOUT OCCUPATIONS
The term “occupation” refers to a person’s involvement in meaningful activities.
For many, “occupations” are linked to important life roles and reflect our values and identities.
Photograph courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy

9. ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN FALLS PREVENTION
Occupational therapy practitioners teach people who are at risk for falls how to safely do things that are important to them.
Photos courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy

10. ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN FALLS PREVENTION
Occupational therapy practitioners work with people after a fall-related injury to help them return to the things they need and want to do.
Photographs courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy

11. ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN FALLS PREVENTION
Occupational therapy can focus on:
Improving skills and abilities
Modifying activities to increase safety
Changing the environment to reduce falls risk
Photographs courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy

12. MINIMIZING YOUR RISK FACTORS

13. MINIMIZING YOUR RISK FACTORS WITH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

14. PHYSICAL RISK FACTORS: MEDICATIONS
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist about medications and how they make you feel.
Occupational therapy practitioners can help you incorporate a medication plan into your everyday routine.

15. PHYSICAL RISK FACTORS: VISION
Have your vision checked regularly by an eye doctor
Occupational therapy practitioners help people with vision issues by
Teaching skills and strategies to complete daily tasks
Recommending special devices and products
Helping to make the home environment safer

16. PHYSICAL RISK FACTORS: BALANCE
Occupational therapy practitioners help people improve balance and learn more about what their bodies can and cannot do.
The key is to maintain an active lifestyle.
Photograph courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy

17. BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS
It is important to stop before an activity, consider whether or not it is safe, and make a plan that reduces your risk of a fall.
Occupational therapy can help people determine what is already safe and make many other activities as safe as possible.

18. BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS
What could this woman be doing differently to put her at less of a risk for a fall?
Photograph courtesy of the UIC Dept. of Occupational Therapy

19. ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS
What are the fall risks in this bedroom?
Photograph courtesy of AOTA

20. ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS
An occupational therapy home safety assessment involves carefully assessing a person’s ability and determining whether the home environment fits the person and supports independence.

21. FALLS PREVENTION REFLECTION
What might you do or what have you done in the past to protect yourself from falls?
Do you have tips to share that we haven’t covered?

22. SUMMARY OF STRATEGIES TO REDUCE FALLS RISK
Talk to physicians and pharmacists about medications
Get an eye exam regularly
Maintain a healthy sleep schedule
Stay active and exercise regularly
Stay hydrated
Find alternatives for potentially risky behaviors
Identify and eliminate fall hazards in the home

23. CONCLUSION Remember… Falls can be prevented
Take charge of your health and utilize your resources

24. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AUTHORS
Elizabeth W. Peterson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Clinical Professor Director of Professional Education University of Illinois at Chicago (Bonita) Lynn Beattie, PT, MPT, MHA Vice President, Injury Prevention Lead, Falls Free Initiative Center for Healthy Aging National Council on Aging
©Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois