Falls among older adults is a serious problem, affecting not only the people who fall and their families, but putting a heavy burden on the health care system. SMARTRISK developed the Smart Moves toolkit to reduce the incidence of falls. In response to ongoing demand, we are pleased to report that the toolkit is now available to you to download in PDF format free of charge.

About the Smart Moves toolkit

After researching the best ways to prevent falls, SMARTRISK developed and pilot tested its Smart Moves toolkit. Designed with both seniors and their caregivers in mind, the toolkit is a large-type, highly readable booklet divided into four main categories key to preventing falls: bone health, exercise, medication management, and home modifications. We also developed a pull-out poster with 15 exercises designed to help older adults strengthen their bodies to prevent falls.

The toolkit was pilot tested among about 400 male and female seniors, mostly between 65 and 75 years old, in nine Ontario communities. The evaluation results were highly encouraging. Over a six-week intervention period, seniors who received the toolkit reported increases in taking supplements for bone health, more of them had begun walking for exercise and fewer were using painkillers.

Perhaps most impressively, the rates of people who had fallen were lower among those with the toolkit and they had a lower likelihood of falls requiring attention by a health professional. SMARTRISK updated the toolkit based on evaluation results and suggestions from professionals and seniors.

Facts on falls

• One in three seniors falls every year. One in four of these falls results in injuries, including sprains, fractures and even death.
• Falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among Canadians over 65.
• Many older people who survive falls never fully recover. They face chronic pain and reduced mobility to the point where they lose their independence and enjoyment of life.
• Falls are a serious burden on Canada’s health care system. Direct health care costs relating to falls among seniors are estimated at $1 billion every year.
• Canada’s seniors’ population will grow to 5 million by 2011, more than a third larger than the 3.6 million seniors’ population in 1998. Thus, preventing falls takes on even greater importance.

How to obtain your Smart Moves toolkit

Download

In order to make Smart Moves as widely available as possible, SMARTRISK is offering the toolkit and the exercise poster free of charge to print out yourself. Download in PDF format, below.

• Toolkit [PDF - 13.7MB]
• Toolkit cover [JPEG - 4.5MB - only needed if doing professional printing]
• Poster - Front side [PDF - 1.6MB]
• Poster - Back side [PDF - 1.4MB]

Order Smart Moves toolkit and/or exercise poster

SMARTRISK has some remaining hard copies in stock, which we will sell first come, first served, until the supply is exhausted.

The cost for the coil-bound toolkit is $20, including shipping and handling. This toolkit includes the pull-out exercise poster. You may also order the exercise poster alone, for $5, including shipping and handling.

Please send an email with your request to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Order through lulu.com

The coil-bound toolkit can also be ordered, for a fee, from the online, U.S.-based service, http://www.lulu.com. However, please note the pull-out exercise poster is NOT available through this method of ordering. Visit www.lulu.com/content/252763.

More information

For more information, call us at 416-596-2709 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)