Preventing Falls

Course Code: REL-IDD-0-PFIDD

Hours: 1

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2026

Learning Objectives:
Define a fall and the potential consequences of falling.
List factors that increase the risk of falls.
Identify strategies to prevent falls.
List the steps to respond to a fall.

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction

About This Course

Learning Objectives

Section 2: The Dangers of Falls

Brenda’s Fall

What Is a Fall?

Falls Are Dangerous

Why Do People Fall?

Responding to a Fall

SPLATT Post-Fall Review

SPLATT for Brenda

Review

Summary

Section 3: Personal Factors

Personal Factors

Mobility Needs

Impaired Vision

Medical Needs

Age-Related Changes

People with IDD Are at Higher Risk

Fall Risk Assessments

Safety Devices

Exercise

Review

Summary

Section 4: External Factors

External Risks

Risks in the Environment

Risks at Home

Do a Walkthrough

Risks Away from Home

Vehicles

Risk in Daily Activities

Transitions

High-Risk Activities

Weather

Review

Summary

Section 5: Conclusion

Summary

Course Contributors

Resources

References

Congratulations!

Instructor: Katy Kunst, MBA, QIDP

Katy Kunst received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her Master of Business Administration from Elon University. She has 15 years of experience serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their supporters, including roles as direct support professional, program director, and training facilitator. She has created and facilitated training on topics including non-violent crisis interventions, person-centered planning, cultural competence, quality service delivery, regulatory compliance, and a variety of topics related to IDD services.

Subject Matter Expert: Jennifer W. Burks, M.S.N., R.N.

Jennifer has over 30 years of clinical and teaching experience, and her areas of expertise are critical care and home health. She is certified as an OASIS Specialist- Clinical (COS-C) and is a Curriculum Designer in post-acute care for Relias. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Virginia in 1993 and her Master of Science in Nursing from The University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1996. Her professional practice in education is guided by a philosophy borrowed from Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing, “I do not pretend to teach her how, I ask her to teach herself, and for this purpose, I venture to give her some hints.”

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Direct Support Professionals (DSP); in the following settings: Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: Agency.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.