Domiciliary Occupational Therapy fall prevention program for people with Parkinson´s disease

Background: Parkinson´s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous central system, characterized for dopaminergic neuron degeneration, that leads to tremor, slowness of movement, stiffness and postural instability... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Parkinson´s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous central system, characterized for dopaminergic neuron degeneration, that leads to tremor, slowness of movement, stiffness and postural instability besides cognitive deterioration. The aim of this work is to design a fall prevention program for people with Parkinson´s Disease from an Occupational Therapy point of view.
Theoretical underpinning:
The study is within the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). It is focusses in functional mobility, one of the occupational areas of the individual within the basic activities of daily living.
Assessment / Intervention/ Technique:
Intervention is carried through two seminars (90 minutes long each) where people who suffer from Parkinson´s disease and their families, will be informed on the characteristics of assistive technology and home adaptations needed to reduce the fall risk in Parkinson's disease (following the ISO 9999:2011). Also, different assistive technology devices mentioned during the seminars, will be displayed on-site to facilitate the assimilation of concepts. Attendants to the seminars should be associated to the one of the several Parkinson Associations of the Principado de Asturias.
Evaluation of outcome:
Prior to the seminars, the initial knowledge of the participants about pathology characteristics and the environmental factors influencing falls is evaluated through a survey. A second survey conducted after the seminars will provide us information on their degree of interest and utility.
Application to practice:
The project will run between December 2015 and January 2016. The analysis of the results will start in January 2016.