Patrece Banks

Member since May 28, 2009.
1 Comments, 1 Answers

Bio

Patrece Banks is working to bring attention to unknown and unaddressed safety and mobility issues that affect aging-in-place. Her father’s death in 2004 helped her see how he needlessly suffered due to a lack of provider knowledge and tools. Patrece is a participant in the FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup. Government statistics show that after stairs and steps bed falls are the second leading cause of fall deaths. This is an area that is unaddressed or improperly addressed with few exceptions. In 2006 she become aware of how the National Institute on Aging (NIA/NIH) was improperly addressing the “bed” in the booklet “Home Safety for People with Alzheimer’s”. The proposed changes were made in 2007 after NIH/NIA and University of California, San Diego Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center review. In 2009, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised “Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders Guidelines for Nursing Homes” after reviewing proposed changes that focused on safety. Patrece has also worked with Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation under Health and Human Services (ASPE/HHS) regarding unaddressed issues on an HHS funded website for technology for long term care.

In 2008 Patrece was recognized as one of the most innovative product designers for the Outta Bed® Bed Mobility Tool®. She writes and speaks about senior safety, aging-in-place, aging parents, home healthcare, bed safety, fall prevention, medical devices/assistive technology, ageism, design safety and risk management. She is also a consultant.

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