A Program Evaluation of a Falls Prevention Program for Older Adults

Falls resulting in a hospital emergency department (ED) presentation are a serious issue for community-dwelling older adults. The critical success factors for falls prevention programs targeting this population are insufficiently understood. Health literacy is one factor increasingly associated with health outcomes. Health literacy has not previously been studied among older adults who present to ED after a fall. This thesis reports a comprehensive program evaluation of an RCT of a falls prevention program: RESPOND, and an analysis of the measurement properties of a health literacy measurement tool. This thesis provides recommendations for future implementation of RESPOND and other similar programs.