Fall Risk Assessment of Older Adults with Dementia Attending Goodwill Easter Seals Adult Day Services Programs

Authors

Presenter(s)

Jamie L. Wynk

Files

Description

Older adults with dementia are at an increased risk for falls. However, little is known about what specific factors increase fall risk in this population. The purpose of this study was to assess performance based fall risk factors among older adults with dementia who attend day service programs in the Miami Valley so that more specific interventions can be designed to reduce future falls. To be included in this study, participants had to attend Goodwill Easter Seals Adult Day Service and have a diagnosis of dementia. There were 19 participants in this study (8 male) with an average age of 72 years old (ranged 64-86 years old). Participants were assessed for cognitive function by using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Testing also included gait speed, the Timed Up and Go test, a 30-second sit to stand test, and a grip strength test. The average MoCA score (16 points) was consistent with MoCA scores for the cognitively impaired or Alzheimer’s population. MoCA scores ranged greatly (0-29 points) signifying a wide range of cognitive abilities among this population. Participants scored lower than published age matched normative values for each measure, signifying an increase in fall risk by each parameter. In the future, an intervention should be designed that can be easily implemented in day service programs with an emphasis on targeting the strength of large anti-gravity muscles of the lower limbs and trunk.

Publication Date

4-9-2016

Project Designation

Honors Thesis

Primary Advisor

Kurt J. Jackson

Primary Advisor's Department

Health and Sports Science - Physical Therapy Doctoral Program

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Business | Education | Engineering | Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Recommended Citation

"Fall Risk Assessment of Older Adults with Dementia Attending Goodwill Easter Seals Adult Day Services Programs" (2016). Stander Symposium Projects. 717.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/717