Implementing Tai Chi Exercise in Long-Term Care to Reduce Falls.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Preventive Medicine
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Falls are a common and serious issue for older adults residing in long-term care facilities.
• A notable increase in falls was observed, rising from 45% in 2021 to 68% in 2022 at this facility.
• This trend highlights the urgent need for effective, evidence-based fall prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based quality improvement initiative.
• To pilot the Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance program as a fall prevention solution.
• To assess the impact of tai chi on fall rates and fall risk in a long-term care setting.

Main Methods:

• An evidence-based quality improvement framework was utilized.
• Seventy-five residents participated in the 12-week Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance program.
• Each 30-minute session included a 5-minute warm-up and a 5-minute cool-down period.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in falls by 32.3% (P =.001) was achieved.
• Participant fall risk scores showed a significant decrease of 14% (P < .001).
• The program demonstrated a positive impact on resident fall occurrences and overall risk.

Conclusions:

• Implementing tai chi exercise programs can effectively reduce falls in long-term care settings.
• The Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance program shows promise in decreasing overall fall risk among older adults.
• This study supports the use of tai chi as an evidence-based intervention for fall prevention in geriatric populations.