Implementing Tai Chi Exercise in Long-Term Care to Reduce Falls


Author: Angela F Miles1, David C Mulkey

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Nursing Department, Georgia War Veterans Home, Milledgeville (Dr Miles); and College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona (Dr Mulkey).
Conference/Journal: J Nurs Care Qual
Date published: 2023 Nov 24
Other:
  Special Notes: doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000756.   ,  Word Count: 126  
    Background:

Falls are a frequent occurrence in older adults in long-term care facilities.



Local problem:

At our long-term care facility, the percentage of patients who fell increased from 45% in 2021 to 68% in 2022, indicating a need for an evidence-based solution.



Methods:

We used an evidence-based quality improvement framework to pilot a tai chi exercise program.



Interventions:

Residents were invited to participate in the Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance program for 12 weeks. Classes were 30 minutes long and included a 5-minute warm-up and 5-minute cooldown.



Results:

Seventy-five residents participated in the tai chi program. There was a significant 32.3% reduction in falls (P =.001). Residents' fall risk scores decreased 14% (P < .001).



Conclusions:

Implementing a tai chi exercise project may affect falls and decrease the overall fall risk.





PMID: 38030147 DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000756