Community Paramedicine Grab Bar Installations Decreased Emergency Calls in Older Adults With Previous Fall History
6 affiliations
- 1Division of Trauma, Department of Orthopaedics The Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus Ohio USA
- 2The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), College of Medicine the Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
- 3Division of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences the Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus Ohio USA
- 4Chronic Brain Injury Program, the Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
- 5The Ohio State University Sports Medicine Research Institute Columbus Ohio USA
- 6Department of Emergency Medicine The Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus Ohio USA
Abstract
Background: Home modifications are an evidence‐based fall prevention strategy, though critical barriers often limit their implementation by individuals at risk for falls. This study assessed the impact of community paramedicine‐installed grab bars on emergency medical service (EMS) activations among community‐dwelling older adults.
Methods: Data were accrued for grab bar installations delivered by a single community paramedicine program from September 2018 to August 2023. Study inclusion was limited to community‐dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 who received grab bars placed within their household and with at least one EMS activation in the 12 months prior to receipt of grab bars. The Wilcoxon Signed‐Rank Test compared activations in the 12 months before and after the installation for all‐cause activations and fall‐related activations.
Results: A total of 389 grab bar recipients met inclusion criteria (57% female, 99% white, mean age 81). All‐cause EMS activations showed no significant reduction post‐installation. Fall‐related EMS activations decreased from a mean of 1.52 to 0.83 activations per person (mean difference: 0.68 calls; 95% CI:[0.23, 1.13]), representing a 45% reduction.
Conclusions: Grab bar installations provided by community paramedics to community‐dwelling older adults with a prior fall resulted in a significant reduction in fall‐related EMS activations. This prevention approach demonstrates high potential for community paramedicine to offer an evidence‐based intervention targeting at‐risk older adults.
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BibTeX
@article{sheridan2026community,
title = {{Community Paramedicine Grab Bar Installations Decreased Emergency Calls in Older Adults With Previous Fall History}},
author = {Elizabeth Sheridan and Jessica M. Wiseman and Catherine C. Quatman‐Yates and Carmen E. Quatman},
journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1111/jgs.70593},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70593},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Community Paramedicine Grab Bar Installations Decreased Emergency Calls in Older Adults With Previous Fall History
AU - Elizabeth Sheridan
AU - Jessica M. Wiseman
AU - Catherine C. Quatman‐Yates
AU - Carmen E. Quatman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/08
JO - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
DO - 10.1111/jgs.70593
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70593
AB - Background: Home modifications are an evidence‐based fall prevention strategy, though critical barriers often limit their implementation by individuals at risk for falls. This study assessed the impact of community paramedicine‐installed grab bars on emergency medical service (EMS) activations among community‐dwelling older adults. Methods: Data were accrued for grab bar installations delivered by a single community paramedicine program from September 2018 to August 2023. Study inclusion was limited to community‐dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 who received grab bars placed within their household and with at least one EMS activation in the 12 months prior to receipt of grab bars. The Wilcoxon Signed‐Rank Test compared activations in the 12 months before and after the installation for all‐cause activations and fall‐related activations. Results: A total of 389 grab bar recipients met inclusion criteria (57% female, 99% white, mean age 81). All‐cause EMS activations showed no significant reduction post‐installation. Fall‐related EMS activations decreased from a mean of 1.52 to 0.83 activations per person (mean difference: 0.68 calls; 95% CI:[0.23, 1.13]), representing a 45% reduction. Conclusions: Grab bar installations provided by community paramedics to community‐dwelling older adults with a prior fall resulted in a significant reduction in fall‐related EMS activations. This prevention approach demonstrates high potential for community paramedicine to offer an evidence‐based intervention targeting at‐risk older adults.
SN - 0002-8614
SN - 1532-5415
ER -