Can occupational therapists help reduce falls among high-risk older people?

Falls are a major source of morbidity and mortality and their incidence is increasing due to the ageing population.

A Cochrane review has suggested that occupational therapy delivered home assessment is an effective intervention; this trial, led by colleagues in York, is testing this.

This will be a cohort randomised controlled trial recruiting patients at high risk of falls from two existing NIHR trial cohorts. The control participants will be followed up monthly for their falls calendars and receive usual care.  

The intervention participants will receive a home visit from an occupational therapist who will identify fall related hazards and make recommendations and referrals if necessary.

Participants will be followed up to ascertain if there are any differences in falls between the two groups.