Falls at home: prevention is better than cure in Albi

At 79, you can be a very active handyman, an ace at pétanque and find yourself paralyzed by fear following a fall from a stepladder without any real seriousness. Laure David, occupational therapist, and Audrey Tranier, nurse, speak with knowledge of the vicious circle that follows: loss of muscle mass and withdrawal from social life.

Members of the anti-fall cooperation team (ECOOPAC) of the VYV Domicile association, alone or in pairs, they helped more than 45 people aged 65 and over, residing in a municipality belonging to the health community ( CPTS) of the Grand Albigensian.

This experimental approach, started in January and the lessons of which will be titled in March 2025, is part of a global support offer to ensure support at home. “A family member, a caregiver, a nurse from the ASALEE network, the attending physician, the CCAS, associative systems such as DAC81, etc. can ask us to intervene in the home of a person who has fallen or to prevent their fall” , explains Audrey.

The first visit, lasting approximately one hour, allows a precise diagnosis to be established. The patient is asked about his or her lifestyle habits, the presence or absence of a caregiver, the activities he or she may have given up on, etc. The protocol is precise and well-established. Evaluation and follow-up are entirely at your expense.

Personalized diagnosis and recommendations

“We also have a technical case at our disposal. It contains a portable monitor. Connected to an application on the phone, this device allows us, via sensors, to carry out a fragility assessment in situ,” explains Laure.

The data collected makes it possible to obtain valuable information on the water balance, bone and muscle condition of the person concerned. The occupational therapist also highlights the lessons to be learned from the “stability monitoring” device used on site.

“When the person stands on this small platform, for 25 seconds with eyes open then eyes closed, we are able to detect a possible balance problem,” continues the occupational therapist. The report of the home visits is sent, at a minimum, to the attending physician and the principal interested party.

The pair can also suggest relatively simple home improvements: placing an armrest on the edge of the bed, a ramp along a corridor, placing double-sided tape under a carpet to which one is attached but become a formidable domestic trap. And it is sometimes good to remember that a good pair of closed slippers is better than old accident-prone slippers…

To quantify the effects and benefits of this experiment financed and supported, in particular, by the Regional Health Agency, the Caisse des Dépôts and the ASSIST association, the University of Nîmes must evaluate its impact. A satisfaction questionnaire is sent to each person who has benefited from the caring expertise of this unique pair.