Actively Recruiting
Development of a Fall Risk Identification and Management Model for Older Veterans
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2025-08-17
108
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
39 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Falls are a frequent concern for older adults, especially Veterans, who face a higher risk of falling than non-Veterans. These falls can lead to serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries and hip fractures, resulting in emergency visits, hospital stays, and even death. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) currently focuses fall prevention on inpatient and nursing home care, but there is a significant need to support older Veterans living independently in the community. This research aims to develop and test a Fall Risk Identification and Management (FRIM) model to proactively reduce falls among older Veterans receiving primary care. The FRIM model involves a three-stage process: brief fall risk screening during routine primary care visits, telehealth assessments to identify specific fall risk factors, and referrals to existing VHA care pathways tailored to address those risks. These pathways include physical strengthening programs like physical therapy or Gerofit, psychological support through cognitive behavioral therapy, medication review and deprescription by clinical pharmacy, and home safety modifications by occupational therapy. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the FRIM model or the standard care offered in the VHA's GeriPACT clinic. Participants will be involved in screening and assessments of physical, psychological, pharmacological, and environmental fall risks. Researchers will collect data on recruitment, retention, burden of fall risk identification and management, and various functional and safety outcomes over approximately one year and beyond. Measures include physical performance tests, fear of falling surveys, medication reviews, home safety screenings, and tracking of falls and injuries. The study includes double-blind randomization and aims to refine and evaluate the feasibility of the FRIM model to improve fall prevention in older Veterans.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Fall Risk Identification and Management for Older Veterans
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Screens positive for increased fall risk within GeriPACT or generalPACT (answers "yes" to any of 3 screening questions)
- Aged 65 years or older
- Positive screen on at least two fall risk factor assessments (Aim 1) or at least one fall risk factor assessment (Aim 2)
- Access to telehealth services
- Availability of an additional adult (e.g., caregiver or family member) to be present during the physical assessment
You will not qualify if you...
- Life expectancy less than 12 months as determined by primary care provider
- Neurological diagnosis such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's Disease
- Moderate cognitive impairment (low scores on telephone or full Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
- Unstable condition preventing safe participation in structured exercise, if physical fall risk is expected
- Participation in any FRIM model intervention component within the past 2 months
- Current use of a wheelchair for mobility
- Increased suicide risk as judged by study staff due to study procedures
AI-Screening
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Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
Screening and enrollment visit
Duration - Approximately 12 weeks
Participants identified with fall risk factors receive referrals to specialized VHA care pathways such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication reconciliation, or home safety modifications to manage their fall risk.
Telehealth visits during the treatment period
Duration - Up to 1.25 years post-treatment
Participants are monitored for fall risk and outcomes including physical performance and fall incidents up to 1.25 years after the intervention ends.
Periodic assessments including surveys and physical performance tests
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045-7211
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Alexander J Garbin, PhD DPT
J
Jennifer E Stevens-Lapsley, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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