A fall is an abrupt, unexpected, and unintentional event that results in a person’s coming to rest on the ground or at a lower level (Rao, Stevens, & Thurman, 2008). Falls are the main cause of accidental death and the seventh leading cause of death in persons aged over 65 years (Akyol, 2007).
Despite numerous studies available, elderly fall injuries and preventions remain a challenge among health care providers. Injuries related to a fall among older people are a major health public issue with essential health care and economic outcomes. To reduce the risk of falls, there are many preventative information available to enable the elderly to be proactive to maintain dwelling in the community and avoid institutionalization and acute hospitalizations related to falls.
The Vancouver Coastal Health Seniors Fall and Inquiry Prevention Initiate currently publishes a pamphlet whose layout appeal is attracting to the eye as it shows the elderly performing various activities that can lead to their loss of independence secondary to a fall. The color scheme was calm and catching to the eye and sparked the reader’s curiosity to read and review more of the information. The quality of the material in the pamphlet was clear, concise, and to the point with an explanation of the risk factors that predisposes the individual to a fall and preventative measures for health promotion.
The content in the pamphlet clearly explains the causes of a fall with preventative measures. Predisposition to a fall in a n an elderly individual can be as a result of factors such as decrease vision, poly-pharmacy, poor mobility, impulsive decisions, ambulating at night without use of night lights in the home, and the normal aging process.
The content discusses risk factors within the control of the individual to prevent the risk of a fall. The content discusses simple interventions in the home that if practiced, can enable the individual to maintain their independence in the community. The font used was fairly large and facilitated easy view for individuals with poor vision.
The reading level was at a basic level in which the material was simple and to the point without use of medical jargons or the use of large words or wordiness that may be difficult for the reader to comprehend. The structure of the sentences were easily understood and transparent. The target audience intended was the elderly. For this audience, the literacy level was comprehendible as the information provided avoided the use of medical jargon.
Examples of health promotion within the packet entailed regular follow-up with Ophthalmologists while in the community to identify visual impairments that may predispose the individual to fall. Health promotion also includes awareness of the medications with their classifications and their uses, using the same drug store to ensure that interactions with different classifications of drugs are identified, taking medications as prescribed, and general knowledge about the overall condition of their health status.
As a part of health promotion, diet and exercise were discussed with the maintenance of an active lifestyle to maintain strength and balance. Strategies for the individual with chronic illnesses that causes weakness was discussed with regards to joining support groups to help managing the illness, participate in activities that will not increase fatigue, and regular follow-up with physicians to monitor chronic health conditions.

The pamphlet proved useful to the risk of falls in the elderly. The risk factors identified were real life risk factors that the individual encounters daily therefore, the material was factual. These risk factors are those that the individual can relate to daily and will be useful to the individual in his or her day-to-day living.
Cultural sensitivity and competence was evident within the information . The material focused on the older adult. There were no stereotypes nor generalizations discussed within the information. The writers of the pamphlet were specific and did not offend any cultural groups.
There were many helpful hints for self-care management to prevent falls at home. Self-care management starts with the individual identifying factors that may cause harm or injuries from a fall. Management starts with the individual identifying their fear of falling and taking the initiative for prevention. Prevention entails avoiding difficult maneuvers such as climbing on a ladder and reaching over where loss of balance can occur, ambulating at night hastily without the use of foot wear or a night-light, removing medications from the home that are no longer utilized, and most important requesting assistance from others when it is needed. Self- care management occurs when hazardous elements such as repairing handrails on stairs, providing adequate lighting, removing rugs and carpets that may cause falls, and avoiding and identifying unsafe conditions leading to a fall which can lead to injuries. Preventing falls in the elderly continues to be a challenge for medical providers. Falls are one of the leading cause of death and injury in elderly individuals making health promotion and maintenance an important issue to help individuals identify and prevent falls to enable independent living in familiar community surroundings and avoid hospitalizations and death.

Reference
Akyol A.D., (2007). Falls in the elderly: what can be done? Int NursRev 2007; 54: 191-6.
Prevent falls, stay on your feet. Retrieved on December 20, 2012 from http://fallprevention.vch.ca/media/SOYF_8.5x11_Book_v5.pdf.
Rao, J.K., Stevens, J.A., & Thurman, D.J., (2008). Practice parameter: assessing patients in a neurology practice for risk of falls (an evidenced based review). Neurology, 2008; 70; 473-479.