Fall Risk Mitigation at Home: A Cornerstone of Effective Aging-in-Place Benefits

Falls are both common and costly in the senior population, accounting for a significant portion of emergency department visits and healthcare expenses. A proactive approach to fall prevention—including fall risk assessments, remote monitoring technology, and fall risk factor support services—can help health plans mitigate the financial burden associated with falls while improving overall health outcomes for seniors. Here, we explore how a thoughtful fall risk mitigation solution empowers seniors with the support they need to stay safe, active, and independent in their homes.

The Why and How of Fall Risks for Seniors

The impact of falls

• Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults
• One in four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year
• Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall
• Falls result in more than 3 million emergency department visits annually

How To Effectively Address Fall Risks in Senior Populations

As health plan leaders strategize how best to integrate fall risk mitigation into a broader aging-in-place strategy, they should consider these key elements:

• Fall risk assessments: Evaluations can help identify factors that increase an individual’s likelihood of falling. These fall risk assessments can include:
  • Medical history review (including past falls)
  • Medication assessment
  • Vision screening
  • Gait and balance evaluation
  • Home safety assessment
  • Self-reported falls confidence assessment

• Personalized care plans and interventions: Tailored fall prevention plans based on individual assessment results can help address root causes of falls and help members feel more comfortable and confident in the home.

• Wearable technology: A personal emergency response system (PERS) or remote patient monitoring (RPM) device can provide real-time monitoring and facilitate meaningful and timely help. Lying on the floor for extended periods after a fall is associated with more serious injuries, higher hospital admissions, and changes in living situations. This highlights the importance of using wearable technologies to enable quick interventions to improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Best Buy Health’s Fall Risk Mitigation Solution

Best Buy Health’s approach to fall risk mitigation is grounded in a philosophy of personalized support for care at home. Our solution allows health plans to go beyond simply identifying members at risk and take proactive steps to prevent falls before they happen.

Our comprehensive fall risk mitigation solution empowers seniors by combining digital technology, support services, and a personalized, data-driven approach to care. Here’s how it works:

• Fall risk assessment: Fall risk assessments help determine your risk of falling, identify contributing factors, and assist in making helpful recommendations. Our highly trained and compassionate team of case managers supports each member in completing their fall risk profile. These assessments capture the member’s key intrinsic fall risk factors, such as age, history of falling, chronic conditions, and fear of falling, as well as modifiable fall risk factors, such as medications, assistive device use, vision impairment, exercise behaviors and environmental hazards in the home. It also examines the member’s unique situation, such as whether they live alone or have access to support. These steps are crucial because they help us understand each individual’s needs and tailor our intervention accordingly.
• Personalized care plans: Based on the fall risk assessment, we develop a personalized fall prevention plan for each member. This plan may include:
  • Digitally delivered strength and exercise programs designed to improve strength, balance, and mobility.
  • Exercise coaching to provide guidance, support, and encouragement. Guided by Otago exercise methodology, coaches work with members to set realistic exercise goals, develop personalized plans for meeting those goals, share safety tips and best practices, and help identify and address any barriers to success.
  • Recommendations for home modifications to reduce environmental hazards. For example, removing tripping hazards, improving lighting in dimly lit areas, or installing grab bars in the bathroom.
  • Additional support to schedule primary care and vision exams and improve access to social determinants of health.
• Wearable technology: Wearable technology, such as PERS and RPM devices, can play a critical role in fall detection. Our Lively Mobile2 PERS device provides a safety net in case of a fall, allowing members to quickly access help and avoid prolonged delays in receiving assistance.
•  Support services: When a member presses the button on their PERS device, our Urgent Response team can respond immediately and dispatch emergency services to their home. The support services available through our Caring Centers can also aid members in accessing programs and services to address social determinants of health, including, digital literacy, loneliness, and more.
•  Detailed reports: To demonstrate the value of the program, Best Buy Health provides health plans with reports that measure impact on key quality metrics. These reports can help health plans track progress, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the return on investment of their fall prevention efforts.

By partnering with Best Buy Health, health plans can reap numerous benefits, including:

• Cost savings: By proactively preventing falls and performing timely interventions, health plans can reduce fall-related healthcare costs, including emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and long-term care.
  
• Improved member outcomes: By empowering members to take control of their health and providing them with the tools and support they need to prevent falls, health plans can improve member health outcomes and quality of life.
  
• Improved quality measures: A successful fall risk mitigation program can lead to improvements in HEDIS and CAHPS scores, reflecting enhanced member safety, engagement, and satisfaction.
  
• Increased member engagement: Health plans can help keep members motivated and invested in their fall prevention journey, ultimately increasing adherence to the program and their overall health and wellness.

Best Buy Health is committed to enabling people to receive care at home and to thrive from getting well to staying well. Personalized services and seamless technology ensure that members receive the support they need to thrive at home. Contact us today to learn more about how our fall risk mitigation solution can help you achieve your organizational goals and improve the lives of your members.