1. Fall Prevention Needs Assessment: An Update on Orange County Presented by: John Billimek, PhD Consultant: Juliana Fuqua,PhD

2. Overall 834 older adults completed the survey, which was administered in Fall 2006 by Down with Falls Coalition members 84%

3. SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS

4. Age

5. Gender

6. Living Situations 57% Do not live alone

7. Ethnicity and Language of Population

8. RESULTS Prevalence of Falls and Risk Factors

9. Prevalence of falling 28% of respondents have experienced a fall in the past 26% of women 32% of men

10. 6 Risk factors for falls Living alone (40% of respondents) Age over 70 (77%) Exercise 2 or fewer days per week (39%) Take over 6 medications per day (44%) Live in a house (not a condo/apartment) (45%) Use a walking aid (44%)

11. Risk factors add up! % reporting a fall on survey

12. RESULTS Sources of Health Information

13. Sources of Health Information

14. How Sources of Health Information Differ Between Groups English Speaking Non-English Speaking Healthcare Providers Friends Internet Medical Books Senior/Community Centers A very high proportion of respondents in all groups reported doctors as a key source Reliance on other sources like family, friends and other health care providers did not differ widely across groups.

15. RESULTS Motivating people to act! Risk Perceptions and Resource Seeking

16. What sorts of resources exist for fall prevention? Programs that teach you how to prevent falls Balance and mobility classes Hospital and medical group education programs Educational materials Lectures/seminars Literature (brochures, flyers, newsletters) Medical Intervention Regular medication review Physical therapy sessions Medical assessments by public health nurses Home Modifications

17. Who sought resources to prevent falls?

18. Perceived Risk – Self vs. Others Participants were much more likely to say that Falling is a problem for people in my age group (83%) than to indicate they think their own risk is moderate or higher (36%).

19. Nature of Perceived Risk In addition to looking at how high or low people estimate their fall risk to be, we looked at the nature of the risk factors they thought to be more important. Internal Risk Factors on Survey Problems with balance Muscle weakness Dizziness Vision problems Medical conditions Arthritis External Risk Factors on Survey Stairs Position changes Footwear Uneven surfaces Poor lighting Pets Clutter

20. Who sought resources? Level of Perceived Risk No history of fallsFell in the past Among non-fallers with an external risk orientation, the likelihood of seeking resources does not increase with a higher level of perceived risk With an internal risk orientation, likelihood of seeking resources increases, especially with a high level of perceived risk

21. Who sought resources? Nature of Perceived Risk No history of fallsFell in the past Among non-fallers with an external risk orientation, the likelihood of seeking resources does not increase with a higher level of perceived risk With an internal risk orientation, likelihood of seeking resources increases, especially with a high level of perceived risk

22. Who sought resources? Level and Nature of Risk Perception No history of fallsFell in the past Among non-fallers with an external risk orientation, the likelihood of seeking resources does not increase with a higher level of perceived risk With an internal risk orientation, likelihood of seeking resources increases, especially with a high level of perceived risk

23. Main Themes Older adults perceive their own risks differently than they perceive the risks of others Education is keybut the methods used should match the target population Older adults rely on doctors for information about falls, but doctors often dont provide it. Internet and printed resources seemed especially valuable for English speakers Community and Senior centers seemed most valuable for non-English speakers Level vs. Nature – education should include types of risks (internal vs. external), not just the level of perceived risk (high vs. low).