Gentiva Safe Strides(R) Home Balance Therapy Program is Reducing Risk of Dangerous Falls and Relieving Pain for Thousands of Older...( 96% of Patients in National Sur...),Health

96% of Patients in National Survey Showed Reduction in Fall Risk

MELVILLE, N.Y., July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gentiva Safe Strides, the pioneering home balance therapy program from Gentiva Health Services, Inc., is reducing the risk of dangerous falls, relieving pain and increasing sensation for thousands of older Americans, according to a new national survey of more than 10,000 patients released today by the Company.

The year-long survey comprising 10,023 patients revealed these key findings:

-- 96% of patients treated by the program showed a reduction in their risk of falls between admission and discharge. Gentiva used the standardized Berg or Tinetti tests for aspects of balance to measure progress of 7,047 of the surveyed individuals.

-- Nearly 43% shifted their personal status from "fall risk" to "low fall risk" by the end of their treatment, based on the evaluation of 3,494 of the surveyed patients using the Dynamic Gait Index.

-- 80% reported a reduction in pain after treatment, according to the evaluation of 1,675 of the patients using the Analog Pain Measurement Scale.

-- 51% experienced sensation on at least one additional measured point, using the Semmes-Weinstein 5.07 Monofilament Test on 3,467 of the surveyed patients.

Among the survey group, 95% were age 65 or over and 69% were women. The data was compiled from January through December 2007.

Gentiva Safe Strides, launched in 2003 and available to qualifying Medicare beneficiaries and others, is a customized, home-based intervention program for the evaluation and treatment of balance dysfunction developed by a skilled and specially trained team of physicians, physical therapists, nurses and homecare administrators. According to the National Institutes of Health, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in persons over 65, about half of which can be attributed to some sort of balance disorder. The National Safety Cou
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