Development and evaluation of a fall prevention program with elderly promotion leaders as cores in the elderly living in an urban area

Abstract

This study was performed in 2,049 elderly inhabitants aged 70-84 years in Miyagino Ward (T district) of Sendai City as an urban area of Miyagi Prefecture for the following purposes: (1) proposal of a screening method using Motor Fitness Scale (MFS) that can be performed in communities for the development of a more effective fall prevention program, (2) appointment of leaders who are often spontaneously produced in social gatherings to be "elderly promotion leaders" and the development/practice of the program with these leaders as cores for the program to continue for a long period, and (3) clarification of the effects of intervention using this program. The degree of self-rated health, the frequency of participation in events of the neighborhood association, the amount of regular exercise, and the score of TMIG Index were significantly lower in subjects with an MFS score≤10 than in those with an MFS score≥11. These results suggested the usefulness of screening using the MFS score. The major contents of the class were original fall prevention exercise for T district, recreation, and group work. Elderly promotion leaders mainly gave instructions and managed the class. After intervention for 6 months, the MFS score, and the score of TMIG Index significantly decreased only in the group who did not participate in the class. Concerning events of the neighborhood association, the risk significantly increased only in the non-particination group.