Grant Background

The Fall Prevention Project

Background

"Interdisciplinary Training for Fall Prevention in the Elderly" is an Allied Health Grant Program supported by the Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.

Project Director

Roberta A. Newton, PT, PhD
Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
College of Allied Health Professions
Temple University
3307 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140-5101

Voice: 215-707-4897 FAX: 215-707-7500 E-mail: rnewton@temple.edu

Goals & Objectives

To develop and teach interdisciplinary courses on falls and fall prevention for health professionals and health care students in:

fall risk factors

consequences of falls

balance assessment

fall prevention

rehabilitation strategies for older adults who have fallen.

To develop and distribute educational materials on falls and fall prevention for both academically- and clinically-based health care professionals, including:

a videotape demonstrating and discussing 3 balance assessments

a manual for development of fall prevention programs.

To develop and distribute consumer-oriented fall prevention literature in multiple languages.

To disseminate information to older adults and health care professionals directly, both locally and nationally, through various means including:

presentations

publications

broadcast media

electronic media

individually, concurrent with balance testing.

Interdisciplinary Steering Committee for the HRSA grant included:

Roberta A. Newton, PhD, PT, Program Director
Elaine O. Patrikas, MA, Professor Emeritus, Dept.of Health Information Management and Consultant/Coordinator
Sylvia Auerbach, MS, Freelance Writer, Journalist, and Older Adult Advocate
Marquette Cannon-Babb, PhD, Assistant Dean of the School of Pharmacy
Julie Chandler, PhD, Physical Therapy Research, Merck Laboratories
Linda Levy, MS, Associate Professor, Dept. of Occupational Therapy
Jean Lovrinic, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Communication Science
Jane Pond, MSN, Director of Ambulatory Services, Temple Health Connection
Kathy Segrist, PhD, Director, Institute on Aging, Temple University

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