Volume 52, Issue 4 pp. 271-281

The environment and falls prevention: Do environmental modifications make a difference?

Tamara Tse,

Tamara Tse

Northern Area Health Board, Community Care Area 7, Occupational Therapy Department, Dublin 1, Ireland

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Tamara Tse,

Tamara Tse

Northern Area Health Board, Community Care Area 7, Occupational Therapy Department, Dublin 1, Ireland

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 24 November 2005

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.2005.00525.x

Citations: 30

Tamara Tse, 9/4 Rathmines Street, Fairfield, Victoria 3078, Australia. Email: [email protected]

Tamara Tse BOT, Post Grad Dip Ger, MGer; Senior Occupational Therapist

The author is no longer working at the Northern Area Health Board, Dublin, Ireland. She is currently on leave and is available via the postal address.

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Abstract

Background and Aims: Environmental modification is a strategy widely recommended in many falls prevention programs. However the effectiveness of such a strategy has not been well established. This study aimed to evaluate published research related to falls prevention and environmental modification for older people.

Method: A review of research conducted between 1993 and 2004 was undertaken. Ageline, Cinahl and OvidMedline databases were searched using falls prevention, home modifications, environmental modifications and occupational therapy as key words.

Results: Eighteen articles were found relating to community and institutional dwellings and the relevance of environmental modifications.

Conclusion: There is some evidence to support the use of environmental modification as a strategy in falls prevention for older people particularly in association with multidisciplinary/multifactorial programs targeted to those people with a history of falls.

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December 2005

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