An Online, Self-Report Version of the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST-SR) to Identify Fall-Related Hazards in the Homes of Older People

Abstract

To identify the characteristics of the users of the HOME FAST-SR, to explore the common home hazards identified and to determine the opinions of older people about the usefulness of the HOME FAST-SR. Data from completed HOME FAST-SR submissions were downloaded from the website hosting the tool, and data from participants who consented to provide additional anonymized information about themselves were included for analysis (n = 250). A further link to an electronic survey was used to gather data about participants’ experience of using the HOME FAST-SR (n = 27). Data were downloaded into SPSS and analyzed. Participants had a mean of 11.37 hazards which is in the high-risk category for falls. A total of 12 hazards were identified by more than half of the participants, most of which were modifiable. Participants indicated they agreed that HOME FAST-SR was useable across the criteria, and 57.9% of participants rated the HOME FAST-SR at 4 stars and a further 21.1% rated it at 5 stars. The online HOME FAST-SR is a useable tool that provides older people with an evaluation of their home hazards and information about how to modify these hazards. It also provides a way to make home hazard evaluation more accessible for older people living in the community.