Medical care
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The cost-effectiveness of a multifactorial targeted prevention program for falls among community elderly persons.
Falls and fall injuries are common-potentially preventable-causes of morbidity, functional decline, and increased health-care use among elderly persons. The current analyses, performed on data obtained as part of a randomized controlled trial conducted within a health maintenance organization, describe the costs of a multifactorial, targeted prevention program for falls, present total net health-care costs, estimate the cost per fall prevented, and describe acute fall-related health-care costs. ⋯ Consideration should be given toward incorporating and reimbursing the cost of fall-prevention programs within the usual health care of community-living elderly persons, particularly for those persons at high risk for falling.