Effects of the implementation of an evidence-based program to manage concerns about falls in older adults

Concerns about falls and related activity avoidance are common in older people. A multicomponent program reduced these concerns and increased daily activity among older people in a randomized controlled trial. This study explored whether the effects and acceptability of the program maintain after its implementation into home care organizations.

In a pretest-post-test study, the effects and acceptability of the 8-week cognitive behavioral program was evaluated in 125 community-living older adults. Data on concerns about falls, related avoidance behavior, falls, fall-related medical attention, feelings of loneliness and anxiety, and symptoms of depression were collected prior to the start of the program and at 2 and 4 months.

Pretest-post-test analyses showed significant improvements at 4 months for concerns about falls, activity avoidance, number of falls in the past 2 months, feelings of anxiety, and symptoms of depression. No significant differences were shown for daily activity, feelings of loneliness, and fall-related medical attention.

After implementation in home care organizations, the program reduced concerns about falls, avoidance behavior, and falls in community-living older adults. These findings are highly consistent with the outcomes of a previously performed randomized controlled trial, indicating that the program can be successfully implemented in practice. Further dissemination of the program is recommended to reduce concerns about falls and related activity avoidance in community-living older people.