Most geriatric fall prevention initiatives focus on improving the older person’s strength and balance or the safety of their home environment. However, physical instability and safety hazards are not the only factors driving falls. This webinar will explore a novel fall prevention strategy that is based on an under-recognized cause of geriatric falls — Subjective Age-Body Mismatch (SABM).

SABM is the misalignment between a person’s actual physical abilities and his or her perception of their abilities. During this one-hour session, injury prevention expert JJ Henderson will explain how this misalignment can lead to decisions that increase the risk of falls. She will also describe how targeting SABM can help strengthen fall prevention education.

The emphasis is on helping older people acknowledge their physical limitations and reframe fall safety as a path to independence. Attendees will learn techniques for identifying SABM in older individuals. They will also learn how help patients normalize personal adaptations to ensure their safety. 

The speaker will review the recent research, explain the psychology of SABM, and share specific techniques for helping older patients adopt a positive view of prevention in order to preserve independence and dignity. 

Attendees will learn how to:

• Define subjective age and its relationship to aging.
• Describe how an outdated perception of physical ability may contribute to a higher fall risk.
• Apply the REFRAME educational model during fall prevention education.

Continuing Education: Attendees will be eligible to receive 1 CE contact hour. (Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # 18116.)

This webinar is designed for injury prevention professionals, trauma program managers, trauma program coordinators, trauma social workers and anyone who is interested in improving care and outcomes for the older population.