Home hazard modification programs for reducing falls in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the effect of home modification in preventing falls in older adults. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies were performed. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered prospectively. Five electronic databases were systematically searched for related articles. The titles and abstracts of the articles found using the key search phrases—home modification and falling—were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to evaluate the studies’ methodology. RESULTS: A total of 12 trials were included. A meta-analysis was conducted using 10 studies with n = 1, 960 participants showing a clinically meaningful 7% reduction in falls (risk ratio = 0.93; 0.87–1). CONCLUSIONS: Falls can be significantly reduced with the use of home modification interventions that are thorough, well-focused, have an environmental-fit perspective, and have adequate follow-up.