Description:
Your patient was seen for Initial Evaluation by a PT. You are treating the patient at his/her home•
and are concerned about the patient’s home environment due to the patient being at risk for falls.

Watch this video regarding Home Safety Tips:•
http://www.moveforwardpt.com/PatientResources/VideoLibrary/detail/caregivers-home-
safety-tips

Read APTA Falls PowerPoint attached•

Perform a Home Assessment using the following attached document•

HomeAssessmentTool.pdf (Posted on Blackboard in Week 3)
•
Based on the Home Assessment, write a narrative including the following:
1. Identification and description of safety concerns (explain and apply the importance of
inspecting the physical environment for safety)
2. Recommendations of items to be discussed with PT to address each safety concern with
specific environmental modifications in order to reduce risk for falls

3. Select ONE research article from a peer-reviewed Physical Therapy Journal that supports
your recommendation. Suggested key words for your search may include “physical therapy best practices for fall prevention at home”, “home assessment”, “balance”, “fall prevention”, “risk for falls”, “physical therapy interventions”, “best practices”, “environmental interventions”.

a. Suggested journals may include Physical Therapy, Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, Journal of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, SPINE, etc.) A research article is not a clinical commentary or an editorial review!).

b. Read the article thoroughly.

c. Include in the narrative your analysis and interpretation of how this research
article is clinically relevant and provides evidence to support your clinical decision making/recommendation.

Includes assessment and modifications (as needed) for 6/6 of the following:
1. Pathways/Entrance to Home
2. Hallways
3. Stairs and Steps
4. Living Room – Family
Room
5. Bathrooms
6. Bedrooms
Includes client’s information

All topics are addressed in at least 4 paragraphs with a minimum of 5 sentences each.

Category: Essays