Un programme régional de prévention des chutes des personnes âgées en Bretagne : le programme Equilibreizh

To prevent elderly people from falls is a real public health issue. The demography in Brittany presents certain characteristics in favour of actions for people aged over 60 and the priority areas are the Brittany cantons because they have the highest rate of elderly people. According to the National Institute of Prevention and Education for Health (INPES), plans for the prevention of falls have shown their efficiency in terms of reduction of the risks of falls, the number of hospitalizations and in limiting the loss of functional autonomy. The more efficient interventions of prevention combine several strategies of action, target several risk factors and implicate several contributors, from the healthy sector to the medico-social sector. Thus, since 1999, the association “Kiné Ouest Prevention”, composed of local physical therapists, has developed actions called “Equilibr'Age”, as part of a regional program: “Brittany Balance”, under the guidance of Carsat Bretagne. Several assessments of the actions have been conducted and they have shown to be beneficial. In the future, it is planned to follow up and to reinforce these actions, but above all to provide a scientific validation with the creation of a “Scientific Committee Brittany Balance”.