The IFOCIS study aims to determine the ability of an individualised exercise and home hazard reduction program to reduce the rates of falls in older people living in the community with cognitive impairment or dementia. To do this, we have two groups– an ​‘intervention’ group and a ​‘control’ group. The Intervention program involves: an exercise program and a home hazard reduction program delivered by experienced therapists tailored to the participant’s cognitive and physical abilities. Carers are an integral part of the intervention team, as some participants require supervision for exercise sessions. We work with carers to help them understand how to get the best from the participant they are caring for, in terms of their ​‘functional cognition’, completing the exercises and preventing falls.

Taking this individual approach means that participants can have very different cognitive abilities and still be included in our study. No other study has done this to date.

All participants will undergo an assessment at baseline with re tests at 6 and 12 months to compare each of these groups on things like strength & balance. The primary outcome is the rate of falls during the 12 month study period which is collected using falls diaries on a monthly basis.

Recruitment for this project is now complete. We are in the process of analysing the data and submitting this work for publication. We hope to have results available soon, please visit again for an update.

Click here to view the Statistical Analysis Plan