So what is your medical plan of action to help reduce falls and unnecessary medications?
As falls in the elderly continue to rise, some senior communities are looking for ways to help reduce those falls and provide their residents with a better, more active, way of life.
During a recent LeadingAge Oklahoma Culture Change meeting, leaders in the industry discussed falls and ways to help prevent them. Members of the Governor’s Task Force on Healthy Aging attended the meeting and discussed lack of sleep and medications as two leading contributors in falls. They also discussed Patient Centered Care and the importance of listening to what the patient is telling you about his or her needs.
Lack of Sleep in Elderly:
There are many things that cause lack of sleep. Alarms, staff interuptions and incontinence, to name a few. Attendees discussed ways to eliminate these things to help residents sleep better and be more active.
Pharmacogenetic Testing:
Medication management was another area they discussed. Making sure your residents are on the right medications and only on medications their body can metabolize and provides them therapy. PGx Medical attended the meeting and spoke to the group about their Metabolic Validation Program, via pharmacogenetic testing. This no-cost program is a great way to provide your residents with individualized care and personalized medicine. The non-invasive buccal swab of the cheek will guide healthcare professionals in dosing residents.
Should everyone be tested? No. Only residents with medical necessity should be tested. Medical necessity is anyone on one or more prescription medications that fall into the area of; depression, anxiety, psych, pain, cardio, anti-coag, ADHD and thrombophilia. Which are common in the senior setting.
Preventing falls not only saves money from re-hospitalization, but it also extends and saves lives.
- About one third of the elder population over the age of 65 falls each year, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over half of seniors fall annually
- Frequent falling. Those who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again.
- About half (53%) of the older adults who are discharged for fall-related hip fractures will experience another fall with in six months.
- Falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among the elderly 87% of all fractures in the elderly are due to falls.
- Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions 40% of those admitted do not return to independent living; 25% die within a year.
By having a Medical Plan of Action in place to help prevent falls in your senior community, that is a big step to healthier, more active seniors. Allowing you to spend more time helping them live out their life with dignity and purpose.
For more information on pharmacogenetic testing, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
Source: learnnottofall.com