Health Board’s strategic plan Health Board’s strategic plan includes:includes:

““Work collaboratively with other Work collaboratively with other agencies to develop an agencies to develop an initiative involving multiple initiative involving multiple organizations to address one organizations to address one

or more health issues of or more health issues of 

older adults in Missoula older adults in Missoula

County.”County.”

More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States United States (Hornbrook et al. 1994; Hausdorff et al. 2001).(Hornbrook et al. 1994; Hausdorff et al. 2001).

Of those who fall, 20%-30% suffer Of those who fall, 20%-30% suffer moderate to severe injuries moderate to severe injuries

People 75 and older who fall are four People 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely to be to five times more likely to be admitted to LTC for a year or longer. admitted to LTC for a year or longer.

Men are more likely to die from a fall. Men are more likely to die from a fall. Women are 67% more likely than men Women are 67% more likely than men

to have a nonfatal fall injury.to have a nonfatal fall injury.

Missoula Fall Prevention ProjectMissoula Fall Prevention Project

Key partners so far –Missoula Aging Key partners so far –Missoula Aging Services, MCCHD, UM (Pharmacy, Services, MCCHD, UM (Pharmacy, Public Health, PT, Social Work, HHP), Public Health, PT, Social Work, HHP), CMC, St. Patrick Hospital, some SOS CMC, St. Patrick Hospital, some SOS orgs.orgs.

Recent progress Recent progress

Convening and Leadership – Greg Oliver Convening and Leadership – Greg Oliver (MCCHD)(MCCHD)

Survey of providers- Lorena Hillis Survey of providers- Lorena Hillis (MCCHD)(MCCHD) & & Silvia Puliti Silvia Puliti (UM PH)(UM PH)

Stepping On- Stepping On- CMC & DPPHSCMC & DPPHS

Assessment of physical activity programs Assessment of physical activity programs offered to seniors- Thomas Julian offered to seniors- Thomas Julian (UM HHP)(UM HHP)

Fall Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)- Mindy Fall Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)- Mindy Renfro Renfro (UM PH)(UM PH) & Diana Reetz-Stacey & Diana Reetz-Stacey (UM SW)(UM SW)

Contributing Factors Have Been Shown to Include:Contributing Factors Have Been Shown to Include:

Age: Risk increases with advancing ageAge: Risk increases with advancing age Fall HistoryFall History Balance & Physical ActivityBalance & Physical Activity MedicationsMedications Home EnvironmentHome Environment Fear of Falling, Depression, Risk-taking BehaviorFear of Falling, Depression, Risk-taking Behavior Use of assistive devices to walkUse of assistive devices to walk Vision: Use of multifocal glasses/contactsVision: Use of multifocal glasses/contacts Hearing & Vestibular Issues: DizzinessHearing & Vestibular Issues: Dizziness Social support systemSocial support system

5

MultifactorialMultifactorial: 14 risk factors: 14 risk factors Very simple to administerVery simple to administer: :

appropriate for use by minimally-appropriate for use by minimally-trained medical office stafftrained medical office staff

QuickQuick: Four self-administered : Four self-administered questionnaires for the patient to questionnaires for the patient to complete in the waiting room with complete in the waiting room with one quick test of balance & mobility one quick test of balance & mobility requiring office staff time. requiring office staff time.

Intervention PlanIntervention Plan: Includes : Includes targeted, evidence-based targeted, evidence-based interventions for the PCP to interventions for the PCP to considerconsider

Stepping On- Community Medical Stepping On- Community Medical Center has stepped up.Center has stepped up.

WHO:65 year olds and up living in WHO:65 year olds and up living in the community (Missoula County has the community (Missoula County has 11,000)11,000)

How: How: Improve balance and strengthImprove balance and strengthEnvironmental and Behavioral SafetyEnvironmental and Behavioral SafetyEncourage visual and medical screenings Encourage visual and medical screenings

and pharmaceutical managementand pharmaceutical management

11,000 Missoula County residents are 11,000 Missoula County residents are 65 and over.65 and over.

Stepping On serves 12-15 people at Stepping On serves 12-15 people at a timea time

Getting the most out of our resources Getting the most out of our resources for public health objectivesfor public health objectives

New Logo & Web SiteNew Logo & Web Site