Occupational therapy fall prevention interventions for community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review

Author(s)

ELLIOTT Sharon, LELAND Natalie E.

Publisher(s):

AOTA Press

Objective: Accidental falls among community-dwelling older adults are preventable and increase the risk of morbidity, hospitalization, and institutionalization. We updated and broadened a 2008 systematic review examining the evidence for the effectiveness of fall prevention interventions in improving fall-related outcomes, occupational performance, quality of life, and health care facility readmissions for community-dwelling older adults., Method: Literature published from 2008 to 2015 from five electronic databases was searched and analysed, Results: Fifty articles met the inclusion criteria and were critically appraised and synthesized-37 provided Level I; 5, Level II; and 8, Level III evidence. Analysis was organized into four intervention themes: single component, multicomponent, multifactorial, and population based. Mixed evidence was found for single-component and multifactorial interventions, strong evidence was found for multicomponent interventions, and moderate evidence was found for population-based interventions., Conclusion: These findings can inform the delivery and integration of fall prevention interventions from acute care to community discharge. (Edited publisher abstract)