Award Date

5-15-2025

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Committee Member

Jennifer Nash

Second Committee Member

Daniel Young

Third Committee Member

Kai-Yu Ho

Number of Pages

39

Abstract

Falling is an experience that can be traumatic and detrimental to the overall health of those aged 65 and older. As this portion of the population in the United States continues to grow, so does the importance of understanding the general health concerns of these individuals and the way they contribute to their risk of falling and impact their ability to live independently. One program to help address these risks is Bingocize, an evidence-based program designed by Jason Crandall, a professor of exercise science at Western Kentucky University in 2011. Bingocize is a 10-week fall prevention program designed to educate participants about the importance of fall prevention and perform exercises to increase body strength and endurance. It was specifically designed to help Crandall’s students get more experience working with older adults while integrating exercise and health education within that community. The purpose of this service-learning project was for young graduate physical therapy students to implement the novel fall prevention program, Bingocize, in the Sun City Summerlin community to enhance the health and social engagement of older adults. A key aspect of the program is the integration of bingo, which adds a fun and engaging element, making fall prevention education both enjoyable and interactive. The educational component of this 10-week program, led by student coordinators, provides participants with essential fall prevention strategies, such as home safety modifications, health screenings, and targeted exercises to improve balance and lower extremity strength. Additionally, Bingocize fosters intergenerational connections by bringing together graduate students in their twenties with older adults in a supportive, social environment. Through this shared experience, participants not only benefit from physical activity but also enjoy meaningful interactions, strengthening both their physical and social well-being. Participants completed pre- and post-program forms including the mFABQ, Six Easy Questionnaire, and Short IPAQ. To assess physical function, participants also completed Timed Up and Go (TUG), Four-Stage Balance, and 30 Second Sit to Stand (STS), following the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) protocol. Each form was evaluated to determine the activity level and overall fear of falling of the participants. Participants were recruited from multiple events in the Sun City Community, including health fairs as well as balance and memory screenings. Residents who were interested were able to give their contact information and sign up for the program. The program was held twice, once during fall and once during spring. The fall session was used as a trial run to see the potential interest in Bingocize, where the second session in the spring was used to collect more data on potential benefits of the Bingocize program. During the spring session, participants were asked to complete the pre- and post-program forms and STEADI testing. Participants who completed both pre-and post-program testing had their results analyzed to see if there was any improvement during the 10 weeks. A total of 50 participants completed pre-program forms and STEADI testing, with 24 completing the post-program equivalents. The data showed that there was an overall decrease in fear of falling and risk of falling in participants who completed the program. These findings suggest that the Bingocize program’s combination of education and exercise interventions was effective in reducing the fear and risk of falling in the older adults. Feedback from both participants and community staff indicated high satisfaction with the program. The interactive exercises and targeted education provided during each session facilitated the program’s feasibility and efficiency in conveying fall prevention strategies and promoting an active lifestyle. Furthermore, the program offered student coordinators valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth, enhancing their skills as future healthcare professionals. The Bingocize program thus serves as a meaningful avenue for educational community outreach and the development of intergenerational connections within the Sun City Summerlin Community. In addition, Bingocize presented the students of the physical therapy program with an opportunity for professional development in a unique and personal environment.

Keywords

fall prevention; older adults; fall risk; physical therapy; student physical therapist; intergenerational; community-based

Disciplines

Physical Therapy

File Format

pdf

File Size

382 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Download


Share

COinS