Reducing falls and fall risk is best accomplished when it addresses multiple risk factors. The home environment is one critical area to consider as there are often overlooked hazards that are easy to fix. Older adults and their families should consider using The Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults. Healthcare providers may find the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST) a useful tool to guide in home assessments and recommendations.
Two research studies about HOP-UP-PT were featured at the Michigan state conference for physical therapists and was recognized with a state-level research award. This provides further evidence of the effectiveness of the HOP-UP approach for empowering older adults’ freedom and independence.
HOP-UP-PT is excited to share an open access publication which provides strong evidence for the programs impact on reducing falls and fall risk. Notably, the study identified that those with the highest fall risk when beginning the HOP-UP-PT program had an 8-fold decrease in falls compared to older adults who continued with normal activity. The randomized controlled clinical trial was funded by a 2018 Michigan Health Endowment Fund Healthy Aging Award ($201,058).
Many adults over 65 years report they do not meet the recommended physical activity guidelines of 150-300 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Activity trackers promote self-efficacy and physical activity in an older adult. Therefore, activity trackers can be useful to monitor activity and safely guide increasing exercise amounts. The HOP-UP-PT base independence program supports the use of wearable activity trackers for all program participants. While the program does not endorse one specific product, recent study iterations have had success with the Garmin Vivofit4.
The purpose of this study was to describe self-reported outcomes and perceptions of community-dwelling older adults who participated in HOP-UP-PT. A telephone survey was offered 1-3 months after program completion to HOP-UP-PT participants. No falls were reported by 15 respondents and 3 reported 1 to 2 falls without injury. Seventeen participants reported no hospitalizations, one reported only overnight emergency room observation, and no participants reported requiring physical therapy. Participants reported benefits of activity trackers (18/18), fall-prevention exercises (17/18), and electronic blood pressure monitor use (13/18). Despite reported benefits, participants indicated an inability/unwillingness to privately pay for the program with fixed incomes identified as the rationale for this response. The findings of this study suggest efficacy of HOP-UP-PT may translate to participant satisfaction and positive health and behavior changes after participation.
The growing healthcare demands of an aging population have created an urgent need to develop and evaluate novel preventative healthcare models capable of facilitating positive health outcomes any reduced cost thereby bringing about increased healthcare value to the community.
The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes of the HOP-UP-PT program, including telerehabilitation visits and activity monitoring use, targeted toward older adults referred from one community senior center. Older adults identified as “at risk” for decline or becoming homebound were referred by Auburn Hills senior center staff to participate in the 6-month program Read More
The purpose of this study was to describe the development and initial pilot results of the HOP-UP-PT Program, a hybrid physical therapy care model (in-person and telerehabilitation visits). The prospective observational pilot study included five participants referred from a community center. The HOP-UP-PT Program utilized fall risk, functional, environmental, cognitive, and health-related assessments. Five older adults aged 73 to 92 years were enrolled. Outcomes suggest that health, functional, and environmental benefits may be achieved when an older person participates in the HOP-UP-PT Program. Evidence emerging from this pilot study suggests trends toward improved functional outcomes associated with reduced fall risk and customized home-based safety recommendations among older adults participating in the HOP-UP-PT Program.