Peer Discussion

Question

Peer Discussion
Please respond to the following peer discussion. Scholarly written, APA formatted, and referenced. A minimum of 2 references are required and references must be dated between 2010 and 2017.


From your experience of a clinical situation, create a problem statement (one short paragraph). Then, develop a purpose statement. Critique each other.

Peer discussion

An identified clinical issue at Lott Assisted Living Residence is the absence of a formalized fall prevention program. Falls are more prevalent in assisted living facilities as opposed to nursing homes or other long-term care facilities because residents in these facilities live independently in their own apartments. Falls in this population are one of the leading causes of injury or death in the age 65 and older population (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015a). 
At the national level, research showed that falls are more common in facilities that lack appropriate fall prevention programs (Mitty& Flores, 2007; The Joint Commission [JC], 2007). Monthly, at Lott Assisted Living Residence, approximately 24 of the 127 residents experience falls, resulting in greater than 200 falls annually.
The absence of staff’s awareness, education, training, and incidents reporting have been identified as an area for concern and clinical need at Lott Assisted Living Residence. According to the director of resident care, staff receive a brief overview of falls prevention during their initial orientation.


References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015a). Algorithm for fall risk assessment &
intervention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/pdf/steadi/
algorithm_fall_risk_assessment.pdf
Mitty, E., & Flores, S. (2007). Fall prevention in assisted living: Assessment and
strategies. Geriatric Nursing, 28(6), 349-357. Retrieved from http://www.gnjournal.com/article/S0197-4572%2807%2900306-0/abstract

Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare (JCAHO). (2007). Joint Commission
announces 2007 national patient safety goals for assisted living facilities. Retrieved from www.jointcommission.org/newsroomsrelease/nr_npsg_al.htm

Answer

Peer Discussion

            People who are aged 65 years and above are at a greater risk of falls due to weakness and poor coordination of their limbs. Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) notes that falls contribute immensely to fatal and nonfatal injuries in older adults;as a result, the government is incurring increased medical costs in treating the injuries that arise from falls (CDC, 2014). The effects of falls can sometimes be severe and may increase the risk of early death among older adults. Therefore, the aged who are concerned about the risks of falls in most cases choose to move to assisted living facilities. In the facilities, the older adults are supposed to be given assistance to ensure that they lead their lives safely. However, as noted in the peer discussion, the older adults are still at an increased risk of falling while living in the assisted living facilities because, unlike long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, the residents there live independently in their own apartments.

ORDER A SIMILAR PAPER

            It is, therefore, important to educate the residents on the risk factors that are posed by falls as well as ways in which they can prevent falls. Occupational therapists should be hired to analyze the environment of the assisted living facilities and educate the residents and nurses in the facilities on ways of promoting safety (Leland, Elliott, O’Malley, &Murphy, 2012). They can do this training through establishment of fall prevention programs. The facilities should be modified to accommodate the specific needs of the aging population as well as help them to recognize fall hazards. There is an exponential increase in the older adult population, and this explains the need to ensure that the assisted living facilities provide a safe environment for them.

References

CDC. (2014). Costs of falls among older adults. Retrieved October 8, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/fallcost.html

Leland, N., Elliott, S., O’Malley, L., & Murphy, S. (2012). Occupational therapy in fall prevention: Current evidence and future directions. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(2), 149-60.