THE PREVALENCE OF VESTIBULAR AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN SENIORS EXPERIENCING FALLS AND A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON A VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION PROGRAM IN SENIORS WITH FALLS, VESTIBULAR IMPAIRMENT AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) and vestibular impairment (VI) increase fall risk.VI prevalence was assessed at fall prevention programs (FPPs). Feasibility of a vestibular rehabilitation (VR) was tested for patients with CI and VI, experiencing falls. Methods: VI prevalence was assessed at FPPs. The feasibility of a 12-week VR program was tested at a Memory clinic in patients with VI, CI and experiencing falls. Results: In FPPs 26/29 (89.7%) seniors had VI, 23/29 (79.3%) had CI and 20/29 (69.0%) had both. Of 424 Memory Clinic patients, 49.1% experienced falls (27.0%-no falls; 23.7%-missing fall history). 23.2% patients fell in the past year, 34/48 were contacted, 14/34 agreed to be screened, 12/14 were screened, 8/12 (66.7% prevalence) had a VI and 7/8 (87.5% recruitment) participated; 5-VR and 2-control. 1/7 (85.7% attrition) patient attended follow-up. Conclusion: VI and CI is common in seniors experiencing falls. VR is not feasible for this population.M.Sc