Falls are the leading cause of emergency department visits, injuries, and hip fractures among older adults, costing over $50 billion in direct medical costs. Many falls are preventable, yet approximately 27% of older adults falls annually. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) developed the STEADI toolkit (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) to promote evidence-based multifactorial falls prevention. This approach consists of screening an older adult for falls risk, assessing for individual risk factors, and providing targeted interventions to decrease risk. This session will educate participants on utilizing the STEADI toolkit to conduct multifactorial falls prevention, utilizing outcomes measures to identify different balance impairments, and recognizing when to refer clients to other healthcare providers. Additionally, participants will be introduced to a falls-prevention self-management plan to assist clients to adopt and adhere to risk-reduction behaviors.
1 - Understand the components of multifactorial falls prevention utilizing the STEADI Toolkit and its resources
2 - Be familiar with how to perform and interpret the 3 physical assessments of the STEADI Toolkit
3 - Distinguish situations in which referral to other healthcare providers is warranted
4 - Be able to implement a falls-prevention self-management plan in collaboration with an older client
Background: Dr. Vincenzo received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, Masters of Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University, and Graduate Certificate in Educational Statistics and Research Methods and PhD in Kinesiology/Exercise Science from University of Arkansas
Certifications & Other Specialties: Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy, APTA Certified Clinical Instructor, Certified Health Education Specialist, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, KL2 Mentored Research Career Development Scholar, 2016 Fellow of the Arkansas Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program through the Health Resources and Services Administration
Teaching Interests: Geriatrics, Neurorehabilitation, Wound management, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Research Interests: Geriatrics, Falls Prevention, Implementation Science, Clinical-community connections to promote physical therapists to engage older adults in community programs during and after an episode of care
Clinical Interests: Geriatrics, Neurorehabilitation, Wound Management
Service Interests: Chair of Balance and Falls Special Interest Group and State Advocate of APTA-Geriatrics, Member of Task Force for APTA-Geriatrics/National Council on Aging, Board member of Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging in Arkansas, Member of the National Council on Falls Risk Awareness and Prevention