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Insurance Industry News from ProgramBusiness.com

Minimizing Assisted-Living RisksThe cost of liability insurance is a primary concern of assisted living providers today. However providers can take steps to minimize risks in their communities and drive down insurance costs.

Southern Assisted Living, a North Carolina-based company, reports that it significantly reduced its liability insurance costs in partnership with its insurance company, Lighthouse Underwriters, a ProgramBusiness StorefrontOwner http://www.programbusiness.com/tracking/sftracker.asp?SFid=175 .

Working together, they were able to test the effectiveness of an orthotic insert, combined with a therapeutic gait stabilizing shoe, in reducing and preventing falls. The company saw residents experience fewer falls, which also resulted in improved resident satisfaction.

TAGWEB, a risk management company specializing in assisted living that works with Lighthouse in the ALFA Member Savings business insurance program, along with Knite-rite, a shoe manufacturer, developed a shoe and insert that would improve gait and stability, and as a result, would reduce the number of falls for residents.

A pilot program of 51 residents in four Southern Assisted Living communities lasted for 90 days. Of the 51, 72 percent of residents (37) were in full compliance throughout the program, 14 percent (7 residents) were somewhat in compliance, and 14 percent (7 residents) were not in compliance (due to diabetic condition, didn’t like how the shoes looked, family not supportive of wearing the shoes, not comfortable).

From a pool of 23 residents who had fallen in the previous 90 days, 21 experienced a reduction in falls in the 90-day trial period, two residents fell more often, and 14 residents at risk for falls did not fall during the trial period. While the program was limited in scope, all the residents who were either fully or partially compliant reported an increase in gait and stability. In addition, within these two categories (full or partial compliant), 57 percent reduced the number falls prior to the pilot program, while 40 percent of the remaining residents did fall either prior to or during the study. Despite this fact that 40% still did fall, there was a definite reduction in that they fell less often.

Of the 37 residents who were compliant throughout the pilot program, 100 percent of the residents either felt the shoes enhanced their gait and stability, or the community staff saw an improvement in their gait and stability (for dementia residents who could not give feedback)

Some of the comments from the resident and/or the staff were:
More confidant and stable with transfer. Walks with better posture. Resident had polio early in life and now is more active in the community. "Won’t wear any other shoe but the orthotic shoes." Helps with transferring resident. Family loves the shoes. Has increased residents’ stability and mobility. Resident is more active in community activities due to enhanced mobility. Resident comes to dining area more often due to increase in gait and stability. "Wants another pair!" Easier for staff to assist out of chair. Has had no falls except when they do not wear shoes. Resident is taking bigger steps and is more confident in walking. Of the 37 residents in full compliance, 56 percent (21 residents) experienced a reduction in falls while wearing the shoes compared with the previous three months, while 40 percent (15 residents) did not experience a fall within the three months prior to the program, as well as during the three-month trial period (although all 15 residents agreed their gait and stability had increased). Four percent (2 residents) ex
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