Free Falls Risk Reduction Toolkit for Physical Therapists and Patients

Get the Falling LinKS Toolkit from the Wichita State University Regional Institute of Aging

This is a very user-friendly document with clinical and personal vignettes that "paint-the-picture" for patients, payers and professionals who may not be fully aware for the risks and the resources available to help prevent falls.

The toolkit hits the "big drivers":

• Overmedication
• Vision deficits
• Inadequate physical activity
• Environmental risks in the home

The toolkit lets patient assess their own risk by checking off boxes and scoring the results simply by accumulating the total - the more "yes" answers the higher your risk.

There is an exercise section with pictures of safe techniques that are functionally-oriented (no leg raises!) with a balance component.

There are checklists to create an exercise plan, a vision plan, a medication plan and a safe home environment plan.

Implementing all of these plans will take a commitment from the whole family, the physician and the physical therapist

I have sent my dad a copy and I will help him implement these steps when we visit at Christmas.