Stepping On (Title III-D Program)

Stepping On, also known as the Step by Step Fall Prevention Program, is a multifaceted falls-prevention program for the community-residing elderly. About 30% of older people who fall lose their self-confidence and start to go out less often. Inactivity leads to social isolation and loss of muscle strength and balance, increasing the risk of falling. Stepping On aims to break that cycle, engaging people is a range of relevant fall preventive strategies. Components of the program include home visits for seniors and community presentations for seniors and health care professionals. Stepping On content draws on current evidence for falls prevention. The program has been proven to reduce falls. A detailed manual is available to enable occupational therapists to run the program.

  • Program Goals:
  • -Offer strategies and exercise to reduce falls and increase self-confidence in making decisions and behavioral change in situations where older adults are at risk of falling

 

  • Target Audience:
  • -Community-residing, cognitively intact, older adults who are at risk of falling, have a fear of falling or who have fallen one or more times in a year

 

  • Program Description:
  • -7 weeks
  • -2 hours per week
  • -A home visit or follow-up phone call by the program leader, to facilitate follow-through with preventive strategies and to assist with home adaptations
  • -2-hour booster session after 3 months

 

  • Program Delivery:
  • Trained Leader
  • Trained Peer Leader

 

Contact information

Reference Material

 

  • Clemson, L., & Swann, M. (2007). Stepping On – Building Confidence and Reducing Falls: An Effective Educational Program for Seniors. Freiberg Press, Inc., 2nd Edition. 03