# Presentation: 658284

## Slide 1

## Overview

- Background on traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- CDC’s educational initiative “Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury”
- Additional CDC resources

**Notes:**
This presentation will:
Provide background information about the extent of the problem of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and associated falls, and the impact of these injuries on older adults;
Give an overview of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s (CDC) “Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury initiative;” and 
Describe additional resources from CDC.

## Background on TBI

- On average, 1.4 million people                               sustain a TBI each year in the                                  United States
- TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or                     jolt to the head
- TBIs can be mild, moderate, or severe

**Notes:**
More than 1.4 million Americans sustain a TBI each year. 

A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. A TBI can result in changes in thinking, emotion, concentration, memory, and/or sensation. TBIs range from mild to severe. A concussion is a form of mild TBI.

## Low-grade headache that won’t go away
Having more trouble than usual remembering things or paying attention
Slowness in thinking or speaking
Getting lost or easily confused
Feeling tired all of the time

- Low-grade headache that won’t go away
- Having more trouble than usual remembering things or paying attention
- Slowness in thinking or speaking
- Getting lost or easily confused
- Feeling tired all of the time

- Change in sleep patterns
- Loss of balance, feeling light-headed or dizzy
- Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, distractions
- Loss of sense of taste or smell
- Ringing in ears
- Change in sexual drive
- Mood changes

**Notes:**
You cannot see a TBI--signs and symptoms can be hard to detect. They can show up right after the injury or can take days or weeks to appear or to be noticed. TBIs are easy to miss, because sometimes the injured person looks fine, but acts or feels differently.

Older adults taking blood thinners (such as Coumadin) should be seen immediately by a health care provider if they have a bump or blow to the head, even if they do not have any of the symptoms listed above.

## TBI in Older Adults

- Older adults ages 75 and older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization and death
- TBIs are often missed or misdiagnosed among older adults
- Falls are the leading cause of TBI among older adults

**Notes:**
TBI is a special health concern for older adults. People ages 75 and older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization and death.

Older adults recover more slowly and die more often from these injuries.

Falls are the leading cause of TBI among older adults. Therefore, caregivers should be especially alert if an older adult has fallen or had a fall-related injury such as a hip fracture.

## CDC’s Initiative

**Notes:**
“Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury,” is a public education initiative resulting from a TBI informational needs assessment conducted by CDC in 2006. The assessment included a literature review, discussions with key professionals, and an expert panel meeting. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness about TBI and to inform people about ways to prevent, recognize, and respond to fall-related TBIs among older adults. This effort is different from other fall campaigns or initiatives because it focuses on primary and secondary prevention and addresses TBI as an outcome.

## To raise awareness about methods for preventing, recognizing, and responding to fall-related TBIs among older adults ages 75 and older

**Notes:**
The communication goal for this initiative is to raise awareness and knowledge about methods for preventing, recognizing, and responding to fall-related TBIs among older adults.

## Target Audiences for the Initiative

- Adult children with parents who are ages 75 and older
- Other caregivers such as relatives, friends, and health care professionals

**Notes:**
To achieve this goal, CDC is targeting adult children with parents who are ages 75 or older. These individuals, who are mainly Baby Boomers, are often the primary caregivers for their parents. They attend not only to their parent’s medical or health needs, but also provide assistance by taking them to doctor appointments, the grocery store, and on other errands; help them maintain their finances; and assist with household chores, etc.

Other caregivers, such as health care professionals, relatives, and friends are also part of the target audience.

## Strategies

- Collaborate with fall prevention organizations to integrate fall prevention and TBI messages
- Establish partnerships with key organizations that focus on TBI and fall prevention and/or those that can help get the message out to the target audience

**Notes:**
CDC’s strategies for achieving its communication goal and reaching the target audience are: 

To collaborate with fall prevention organizations to integrate fall prevention and TBI messages. The literature review that was conducted as part of the formative research revealed that TBI is rarely mentioned as an outcome of a fall in fall-related consumer education material. So, integrating the two messages is important. 

Several organizations around the country are implementing evidence-based, fall-prevention programs, so CDC is working to establish partnerships. Key organizations include those involving caregivers; agencies and organizations that provide services to seniors; federal, state and local agencies; and national and local organizations that address health and aging issues.

## Communication Products 

- Brochure, pamphlet, fact sheet, posters, magnet
- Newsletter article
- Promotional flyer
- Social networking profile
- E-cards

**Notes:**
CDC developed various communication products as part of this initiative, including a brochure or booklet, tri-fold pamphlet, fact sheet, magnet, and posters for children caring for their parents, and for caregivers of older adults. These materials are available in English and Spanish.  

As many caregivers use of the Internet, magazines and other print media to deliver information, CDC developed an article for print and web-based publications for the target audience. The article can be easily distributed and published in newspapers, magazines, websites, newsletters, etc.

In addition, as many caregivers share the responsibility of caring for and making decisions about their parents with siblings, CDC also developed a profile to be placed on social networking sites and e-cards. A profile on a social networking site and/or an e-card can be an effective tool for sharing fall-related TBI resources with siblings, friends, and others. 

## Materials

- Provide the signs and symptoms of TBI
- List immediate steps to take if an older adult falls
- List ways to help prevent falls:
- Encourage exercise
- Make home and surroundings safe
- Have medicines reviewed
- Have vision checked

**Notes:**
All of the materials:
Define TBI
List signs and symptoms of TBI
Provide questions to ask a doctor if a person suspects that their parents or another older adult in their care has sustained a TBI
List factors that can affect recovery
List ways to help prevent falls: 
-encourage exercise; 
- make home and surroundings safe; 
- ask the health care provider to review medicines;
- take the older adult in your care for a vision check
- provides details regarding each of these steps, such as which exercises are most effective and how to modify the home
List immediate steps to take if an older adult falls
List CDC’s toll-free phone number and Web site as sources for additional information 
List the participating organizations

## Pamphlet

**Notes:**
This tri-fold pamphlet, developed for family members and other caregivers of older adults. 

This document:
Defines TBI
Lists signs and symptoms of TBI
Provides questions to ask a doctor if a person suspects their parent or loved one has sustained a TBI
Lists factors that can effect TBI recovery
Lists ways to help prevent falls: 
-encourages exercise; 
-shows how to make the home and its surroundings safe; 
-suggests that caregivers ask health care providers to review medicines; 
-advises caregivers to take the person in their care for a vision check;
- provides details regarding each of these steps (e.g., which exercises are the most effective, how to modify the home); and
-gives immediate steps to take if an older adult falls.
Lists CDC’s toll free phone number and Web site as sources for additional information 
Lists participating organizations

## Fact Sheet

**Notes:**
To provide another formatting option, CDC developed a fact sheet that:
Defines TBI
Lists the signs and symptoms of TBI
Instructs the reader to seek medical attention if they think the older adult has a TBI
Lists ways to help prevent falls
Includes photos of older adults exercising; a man installing a grab bar in the shower; a pharmacist reviewing a medication with an older adult; and an optometrist standing in front of an eye-chart interacting with an older adult 

## Booklet

**Notes:**
This is the cover design of the booklet for older adults. As many caregivers like to share health information with their parents, CDC developed this booklet with large font and streamlined text to make the information more accessible for older adults.

This booklet:
Defines TBI
Lists the signs and symptoms of TBI
Provides information about preventing falls and what to do if a fall occurs and/or a TBI is suspected

## Participating Organizations

- Administration on Aging
- American Occupational Therapy Association
- Brain Injury Association of America
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Children of Aging Parents
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care
- Easter Seals
- Employee Assistance Professionals Association, Inc.

**Notes:**
The following three slides include a list of the 26 organizations participating in this initiative. 

Administration on Aging
American Occupational Therapy Association
Brain Injury Association of America
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Children of Aging Parents
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care
Easter Seals
Employee Assistance Professionals Association, Inc.

## Participating Organizations 

- Emergency Nurses Association
- Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- Home Safety Council
- National Adult Day Services Association
- International Parish Nurse Resource Center
- National Alliance for Caregiving
- National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
- National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

**Notes:**
Emergency Nurses Association
Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving
Health Resources and Services Administration
Home Safety Council
National Adult Day Services Association
International Parish Nurse Resource Center
National Alliance for Caregiving
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

## Participating Organizations

- National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
- National Council on Aging
- National Family Caregivers Association
- National Institute on Aging
- National Safety Council
- State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association
- Visiting Nurses Association of America
- YMCA of the USA

**Notes:**
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
National Council on Aging
National Family Caregivers Association
National Institute on Aging
National Safety Council
State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association
Visiting Nurses Association of America
YMCA of the USA

## Roles for Organizations

- Urge affiliates/constituents to:
- Promote messages and materials
- Distribute materials
- Host an event to support during relevant health observances
- Work with local media to get coverage of fall-related TBI events and activities

**Notes:**
There are many ways organizations and agencies can participate in this initiative. They can encourage affiliates or constituents to distribute materials and to conduct promotion activities, such as holding an event during relevant health observances such as Brain Injury Awareness Month in March, Older American’s Month in May, or National Family Caregivers Month in November. Organizations can work with local media to get coverage for their events and programs.

## Roles for Organizations (cont’d)

- Promote messages and materials
- Email
- Listservs
- Websites
- Newsletters/Magazines
- Conferences/Presentations/Workshops
- Link to CDC webpage

**Notes:**
All organizations can use their established communication channels to promote the initiative’s messages and materials, link to the CDC webpage where the materials will be housed, and include fall-related TBI information on their website, in print publications, and in presentations.

## Resources for Organizations

**Media Access Guide**
- Media relations tips
- Talking points
- Sample media tools
- Preparing spokespersons
- Media monitoring coverage tips

**Event Planning Guide**
- Planning tips and tools
- Selecting partners
- Promoting
- Hosting
- Evaluating
- Fall-related TBI event ideas

**Notes:**
To help organizations accomplish these tasks, CDC developed a Media Access Guide and an Event Planning Guide. A summary of the content included in each guide is listed on the slide. These materials will be useful resources for this initiative, and other media outreach and event planning activities.

These Guides may be downloaded from CDC’s website at no cost at: www.cdc.gov/BrainInjuryInSeniors.

## Additional CDC Resources

**Notes:**
The following are some additional CDC resources that are designed for public health professionals and prevention programs.

## Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions

- Provide public health practitioners and others with detailed information about rigorously-tested, effective interventions

**Notes:**
One of these resources is the Preventing Falls: What Works. A Compendium of Effective Community-based Interventions from Around the World.

This document provides public health practitioners and others with detailed information about rigorously-tested, effective interventions. 

## Compendium of Effective Interventions (cont’d)

- Gives a summary of each study
- Describes each intervention
- Includes relevant details about how each intervention was carried out

**Notes:**
CDC created Preventing Falls: What Works to help public health practitioners and community-based organizations effectively address the problem of falls. It details 14 specific, proven interventions that have rigorous scientific evidence of effectiveness. It also provides relevant information about these interventions for those who wish to implement fall prevention programs.

Preventing Falls: What Works groups interventions into three categories: 1) exercise-based; 2) home modification; and 3) multifaceted interventions. Each description includes a short summary of the research study and results, and a longer section detailing the intervention, including:
focus of the intervention
setting
content
number of sessions
duration
provider and their training
available intervention materials
contact information for the study’s principal investigator 

This document also includes appendices with useful charts and tables, assessment instruments, and evaluation materials.

Preventing Falls: What Works is available at no cost from CDC’s Web site at: www.cdc.gov/injury.

## Preventing Falls: How to Develop Community-based Fall Prevention Programs

- Defines the key elements of effective programs
- Provides guidelines on program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation

**Notes:**
The companion document, Preventing Falls: How to Develop Community-based Fall Prevention Programs, details how community-based organizations can implement proven, effective fall prevention programs. This guide is a practical and useful tool that can assist community-based organizations in creating programs that keep older adults safe from falls.

Through Preventing Falls, CDC provides organizations with the building blocks of effective fall prevention programs by including examples, resources, and tips. Program components include: 
education 
exercise programs 
medication management 
vision checking and improvement 
home hazard assessment and modification 

The guide also includes helpful information about building and maintaining community partnerships, and promoting, evaluating, and sustaining fall prevention programs. The appendices include practical assessments, worksheets, presentations and templates.  

This document is also available online at: www.cdc.gov/injury. 

## To learn more, visit: www.cdc.gov/BrainInjuryInSeniors

**Notes:**
To learn more about the “Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury” initiative, visit www.cdc.gov/BrainInjuryInSeniors.