Home Health & Hospice Week

You've got an ally in your efforts to protect your patients from falls -- The Joint Commission. The Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based accrediting organization formerly known as JCAHO has launched a falls prevention education campaign. "Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that falls are the second leading cause of injury-related deaths for people ages 65 and older, and are the most common  ause of injuries and hospital admissions among the elderly," the Commission says in a release. The program offers patients simple tips to prevent falls in the home or in facilities. They include turning on lights when entering a room, removing throw rugs, and applying non-slip decals in bathrooms and on stairs. Brochures for your patients in English and Spanish are at www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/SpeakUp/speak_up_reduce_falls.htm.