fall prevention

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths in adults over the age of 65? Death rates in the U.S. resulting from falls increased 30 percent from 2007 to 2016 in older adults.  If the rates continue to rise, the CDC states that we can anticipate seven fall deaths every hour by 2030. Fall prevention in seniors is challenging but with the right action and measures implemented, we can lessen the risk of a detrimental outcome.

What makes a senior more likely to experience a fall?

There are many risk factors at play that contribute to falling. Here is a list of the most common ones:

  • Vision issues and/or problems: Poor visibility is a big risk factor for many seniors. It can cause a lapse in concentration or an inability to properly navigate obstacles or depth while walking.
  • Home hazards: Hazards can be categorized as uneven surfaces or broken steps, throw rugs, and clutter in the home.
  • Medications that effect balance: Medications that can impact balance include antidepressants, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. In addition, some over the counter (OTC) medications can cause dizziness. Always consult a pharmacist before starting a new prescription or taking a pill that you have never taken before.
  • Poor footwear: Ill-fitting shoes can contribute to a variety of conditions such as ingrown toenails, bunions, and hammertoe. Many of these conditions can also affect balance and cause complications or difficulties that often set a senior up to experience fall.
  • Vitamin D deficiency: Can lead to a loss of bone density, which can cause osteoporosis and contribute to fractures and/or broken bones. Vitamin D levels are also linked to sleep quality. Supplementation is the main treatment for adults over the age of 65.

Understanding the side effects of falls in seniors

When a senior experiences a fall, it doubles the chances of falling again, according to a study that looked at risk factors for falls and injurious falls among the community dwelling elderly. Not all falls result in injury, however those that fall and don’t experience a breakage or injury, often become afraid of falling again, which results in the person becoming less active. This too has detrimental effects including loss of independence, muscle weakness and depression.

If a person falls and breaks a hip, leg or arm, they may be hospitalized and need to spend time in a rehab center until they are able to move with minimal assistance. This too can lead to a weakening of muscle strength and difficulty returning to normal daily activities.

A more serious injury to the head can be particularly worrisome for a person on blood thinners. It’s imperative that an older person who experiences a fall and hits their head consults their healthcare provider immediately and rules out a brain injury.

4 tips for preventing falls in seniors

  1. Speak with your healthcare provider – A risk evaluation should be conducted if you believe you or a loved one are at an increased danger of falls. Consult your physician and discuss specific things you can do to prevent the probability of falling.
  2. Prioritize strength and balance exercises – Join a senior fitness class or practice exercises at home that focus on building lower body strength and balance. The benefits of exercise as you age are far-reaching.
  3. Make your home safer – Remove trip hazards and clutter to create clear pathways in the home. Have safety rails placed in bathrooms, stairways, or other parts of the home where access may be trickier, and safety is compromised.
  4. Schedule annual eye doctor appointments – It is recommended to have a complete eye care exam yearly to assess your risk of serious conditions that can cause changes in vision.

Adobe Care & Wellness is committed to helping its members make their homes a safe place to live by conducting at home assessments and visits. We take a holistic approach to our case management services and utilize healthcare technology innovations to help prevent illness and injury and improve overall health. While acute settings are critical to care, chances of hospitalization can be reduced when steps for prevention are taken. To learn more about Adobe Care & Wellness and the services and resources it provides its members to live a healthier better quality of life, contact us here.

 

social determinants of health

Globally, there is strong evidence that people who are impoverished and/or lacking education are more likely to have health issues and die earlier than those who are more affluent and have greater access to education. Social determinants of health can be grouped into 5 categories and are considered to be the conditions in which people are born into, grow, live, work and age.

The five key areas or categories as outlined by healthypeople.gov include:

  1. Economic Stability
  2. Education
  3. Social and Community Context
  4. Health Care Access
  5. Neighborhood and Built Environment

How Adobe Care & Wellness positively impacts the lives it touches

The combination of proactive care and case management with the use of innovative healthcare solution, allows the Adobe Care & Wellness team to identify and address social determinants head on. This begins with providing better access to health care for members that are at risk and/or live in rural communities. It begins with utilizing technology to determine the risks and adding the human touch to monitor and aid, addressing both social and physical issues.

In our mission to help individuals live a healthier quality of life, Adobe Care & Wellness developed a number of resources. First, is our software application called Maslow; aptly named after Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We also apply a risk stratification tool designed to help identify social determinants that can put individuals at risk. Our team also uses a proprietary electronic record keeping system built on Salesforce and a program called CareSync.

 

What is Maslow?

To help better understand, the app is designed to identify specific needs around social determinants and then provide users with access to resources that will help address an individual’s particular needs. The user is tasked with answering a brief questionnaire to help detect gaps and social barriers to health. As per the users’ responses, the app will search its extensive database and geolocate resources in the users’ locale which help provide access to food, shelter, transportation and more.

 

What is Risk Stratification?

Adobe’s Risk Stratification tool is an algorithm allowing its team to proactively isolate members within new populations to prevent future hospitalizations. For example, if an individual was recently released from a hospital stay or if they have a chronic health issue that puts them at greater risk of being hospitalized, the case management team will recognize this and provide access to information and/or care. The algorithm has been extremely effective in decreasing health care costs due to hospital readmits, additional medical care requirements and medications, while helping to improve overall health and well-being.

 

Electronic Records provide valuable data points

Adobe Care & Wellness takes a comprehensive approach to managing and tracking records. It allows its technology experts to capture, store, track and analyze data that ultimately improves the efficiency of care. The gathering of this information uses the data points for generating the reports needed to conduct evaluations, determine and deliver care and measure outcomes.

 

How does CareSync work?

CareSync is a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) in-home program specifically designed by Adobe Care & Wellness to provides both in-home extended services and a 30-day episodic care program. You can learn more about what each care plan offers here.

 

A voice for the underrepresented

Our CEO & Founder, Jayme Ambrose is passionate about improving health outcomes for the members that Adobe Call & Wellness serves. She is a voice for those that face adversity,  economic insecurity and a lack of access to quality care and services. Most recently, Ambrose appeared as a guest on The Game-Changing Women of Healthcare podcast. In the episode, Ambrose discusses a meeting she had with a nephrology group whereby she asked: “How often do you ask your patients if they have enough money for food?” The group’s response was that they never thought of it but should. The social determinants dilemma is so often overlooked in the health care community. Ambrose and the Adobe Care & Wellness team have a great deal of hope that delivery of care is going to change. The goal is to make the Adobe Care & Wellness model the model for health care throughout the U.S.

Ambrose says, “Instead of a prescription for a medication that may or may not work, I get a prescription for quality of life that allows me to live as healthy as possible. I mean, that’s what we should be doing for everyone.”

To learn more about the population health solutions Adobe Care & Wellness delivers and its innovative technology contact us here. We work with many insurance companies and healthcare companies in the state Arizona and have plans to deliver our model of care on a nationwide basis