Cooperative Agreement D261IHS0221

NARRAGANSETT INDIAN TRIBE ELDER FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM - THE NARRAGANSETT INDIAN TRIBE (TRIBE) SEEKS FUNDING THROUGH THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES (IHS) TRIBAL INJURY PREVENTION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM (TIPCAP) - PART II TO ADDRESS AND ESTABLISH A CULTURALLY RELEVANT, EVIDENCED-BASED TRIBAL ELDER FALL PREVENTION TO REDUCE FALL-RELATED INJURIES, HOSPITALIZATION, AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AMONG TRIBAL ELDERS AGED 55 AND OVER. FALLS ARE A LEADING CAUSE OF INJURY AND LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE AMONG ELDERS, AND THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR A CULTURALLY RELEVANT, AND SUSTAINABLE ELDER FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM. TRIBAL ELDERS HOLD AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PRESERVING TRIBAL CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND COMMUNITY VALUES; THEREFORE, PROTECTING THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY IS A CENTRAL TRIBAL PRIORITY. OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, THE TRIBE WILL IMPLEMENT A CULTURALLY-CENTERED, EVIDENCED-BASED PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES HOME SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS, CULTURALLY TAILORED ELDER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, EXERCISE AND MOBILITY PROGRAMS, AND STAFF AND CAREGIVER TRAINING. THE PROGRAM WILL ESTABLISH A TRIBAL INJURY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM TO TRACK FALLS, OUTCOMES, AND EVALUATE PROGRAM IMPACT. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE A 25% REDUCTION IN FALL-RELATED INJURIES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AMONG TRIBAL ELDERS. BY INTEGRATING EVIDENCED-BASED FALL PREVENTION STRATEGIES WITH TRADITIONAL WELLNESS PRACTICES, THIS PROGRAM WILL ENHANCE ELDER SAFETY, MOBILITY, INDEPENDENCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SUSTAINABILITY IS ENSURED THROUGH INTEGRATION OF FALL PREVENTION PRACTICES INTO THE TRIBE'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT; WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGING AGENCIES TO ASSIST IN THE DELIVERY OF ELDER EXERCISE AND MOBILITY. THIS INITIATIVE HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE NARRAGANSETT INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AND TRIBAL ELDERS.