Management of falls in community-dwelling older adults: clinical guidance statement from the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Background: Falls in older adults are a major public health concern due to high prevalence, impact on health outcomes and quality of life, and treatment costs. Physical therapists can play a major role in reducing fall risk for older adults; however, existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) related to fall prevention and management are not targeted to physical therapists.

Objective: The purpose of this clinical guidance statement (CGS) is to provide recommendations to physical therapists to help improve outcomes in the identification and management of fall risk in community-dwelling older adults.

Perspective from the practice committee: is autonomous practice in neurologic physical therapy defined differently based on the type of practice setting?

The answer to the question, "Is autonomous practice in neurologic physical therapy defined differently based on the type of practice setting?" is no. Autonomous practice is a characteristic of the physical therapist, embodying excellence, communication and collaboration, and advocacy and caring. It is our belief that many physical therapists already practice autonomously, even though they may not recognize their practice as being autonomous; and it is our hope that physical therapists who are functioning as autonomous practitioners will provide peer mentoring to help bring their colleagues to the same level of practice and the same recognition.

Adherence to Exercise Scale for Older Patients (AESOP): a measure for predicting exercise adherence in older adults after discharge from home health physical therapy.

Purpose: To develop a measure of 3 social cognitive theory constructs (self-efficacy expectations, outcome expectations, and outcome expectancies) for predicting home exercise program (HEP) adherence in older adults after discharge from home health physical therapy.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed, pilot-tested, and administered to 50 participants (mean age 79.9 years, range 65-91 years) who were being discharged from home health physical therapy on a HEP.