Patient falls are a prevalent issue in skilled nursing facilities. Fall incidents put patients at a significant risk for injury and rehospitalization, causing an increased burden on patients, their families, and the already strained healthcare system. In addition to physical injury, falls often result in adverse psychosocial effects such as distress, anxiety, and a loss of strength and independence. While many fall prevention programs are available, researchers have shown that most programs cannot prevent a first incidence of falling but aim to prevent further falls once one has occurred. Moreover, research findings indicate that these programs do not provide long-standing results. Fall prevention programs in skilled nursing facilities are currently targeted at staff-provided interventions that lack the understanding of the psychosocial aspects of human function rather than empowering patients with individualized skills and knowledge to prevent falls founded on their values and beliefs. Occupational therapy’s expertise in the psychosocial aspects of human occupation offers the perfect foundation for critically assessing falls in the skilled nursing setting. Occupational therapy literature rarely puts occupational therapists at the forefront of this battle. Nurses and physical therapists currently drive fall prevention programs. This business plan aims to fill a gap in the limited fall prevention programming available nationally to skilled nursing management stakeholders and demonstrates the essential role of occupational therapy in these programs. This occupational therapy focused consultancy business with a evidence-based, sustainable solution for patient falls aims to tackle this complex issue.
