Feasibility of social cognitive theory-based fall prevention intervention for people with intellectual disabilities living in group-home.
Eight weeks of staff-led home exercise with small rewards safely boosts balance and fall confidence in adults with intellectual disability.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Staff ran an 8-week home exercise program for adults with intellectual disability living in group homes.
Each session added small rewards and social praise to boost motivation.
The team tracked balance, strength, and confidence about falling.
What they found
All 31 adults finished the program with no injuries.
They stood longer, walked farther, and felt less scared of falling.
Staff kept 71% of planned sessions — a strong show for this setting.
How this fits with other research
Hanson et al. (2013) built a falls clinic for the same group, but clients had to travel. Sáez-Suanes et al. (2023) brought the help to the home, cutting travel and cost.
Kovačič et al. (2020) ran a longer 16-week balance class and also cut falls. The new study shows an 8-week, staff-aided model can give similar gains faster.
Bondár et al. (2020) reviewed earlier trials and called the evidence for quality-of-life gains "thin." The new study adds positive data, but more work is still needed.
Why it matters
You can copy this package tomorrow: print simple pictures of each move, give instant praise, and let staff join the fun.
Short, reward-rich workouts fit tight day-program schedules and need no gym gear.
Track one balance skill and one confidence question weekly to show progress in your next report.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Pick two simple strength moves and one balance game, add a sticker chart, and run a 10-minute session before lunch — track if clients stand longer each Friday.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual disability (ID) have a higher rate of fall events than the general population. Consequently, interventions for reducing fall events and improving health are highly required for individuals with ID. One essential step towards effectively delivering fall prevention interventions among adults with ID involves evaluating their feasibility. This study examined the feasibility of a home-based exercise intervention, supplemented with behavioural change strategies, among individuals with ID living in residential settings. METHOD: This study provided an 8-week intervention, consisting of a workshop for support workers and sessions for participants with ID, focusing on behavioural reward/s, education regarding fall prevention/exercise and exercise training. One week prior to and 1 week following such an intervention, such participants underwent measurements for (1) physical performance, (2) fall efficacy, (3) self-efficacy for activity and (4) social support. RESULTS: Participants having ID (n = 33), support workers (n = 11) and one administrator participated in this study. There were no adverse events during the intervention, and the mean adherence rate was 70.8 ± 19.5%. Two participants with ID dropped out of the programme due to a lack of interest. The participants with ID significantly improved individual physical performance, self-efficacy for activity, fall efficacy and support from friends and support workers. CONCLUSIONS: Fall prevention interventions for adults with ID living in group-homes were highly promising for eventual large-scale implementation within such communities.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2023 · doi:10.1111/jir.13001