Falls-Prevention Interventions for Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.

The purpose of this article is to describe four main areas of falls-prevention intervention for older adults who are blind or visually impaired. When integrated into multifactorial programs, interventions pertaining to education, medical assessment, exercise and physical activity, and environmental assessment and modification have been shown to be effective in falls reduction. These areas of intervention are discussed with respect to specific concerns of older adults who are blind or visually impaired. In describing these areas of intervention, the increasing need for cross-disciplinary falls-prevention programs designed specifically for older persons with vision loss, as well as research demonstrating the efficacy of multidisciplinary programs designed for this group, are emphasized.

Environmental assessment and modification as fall-prevention strategies for older adults.

This article discusses the role of home assessment and environmental modification in reducing the risk of falls and helping older adults and persons with disabilities live in the community. This article reviews the research on the efficacy of home environmental assessment and modification. Researchers agree that integrated risk-management programs that emphasize on multiple interventions, including professional home-hazard assessment, along with home modifications are most effective for improving function and reducing falls. Important steps for implementing home modifications for persons at risk of falling are discussed, including exploring fall-risk factors and the effects of home modifications, identifying what changes are needed through home assessments, identifying sources of payment, and finding qualified installers and products.

Fall risk in older adults: roles of self-rated vision, home modifications, and limb function.

Objective. To assess direct effects of self-rated vision, home modifications, and limb functioning, and moderating effects of self-rated vision on change in functioning of upper and lower limbs on fall risk in older adults. Method. Logistic regression was used to analyze 2004 and 2006 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Results. Effects of self-rated vision and home modifications in predicting falls decreased after controlling functioning in upper and lower extremities. Declines/gains in functioning across short periods of time superseded self-rated vision in predicting falls. No evidence was found for a moderating effect of vision status on limb functioning. Discussion. Poor self-rated vision may not be a good indicator of fall risk in older adults. Thus, for older adults with visual impairments, preserving residual limb functioning through exercise and activity has the important potential to reduce fall risk in addition to improving muscle and bone strength as well as improving balance and gait.