Programs Falls Prevention
This program is current
Falls Prevention is everyone’s business
The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, seeks to promote a comprehensive, systemic approach to falls prevention within NSW through NSW Health Prevention of Falls and Harm from Falls among Older People: 2011-2015. The policy directive is available on the Ministry of Health website. Doc No.: PD2011_029
This policy aims to reduce the incidence and severity of falls among older people and reduce the social, psychological and economic impact of falls on individuals, families and the community.
No other single cause of injury, including road trauma, costs the health system more than falls.
Monday 2nd April 2012 is April Falls Day
Gazetted on the Ministry of Health Calender.
For promoting falls prevention during the month of April click here for information:
Program Overview
Context for Action
The need to focus on Falls among Older People
Falls are common among older people
- More than one in four people aged 65 or over have at least one fall per year and many fall more than once. Falls are even more common among residents of aged care facilities, up to half of whom fall at least once a year.
Fall-related injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for older people
- In 2009 26% of NSW residents aged 65 years or older fell at least once.
- In NSW each year falls lead to approximately 27,000 hospitalisations and at least 400 deaths in people aged 65 years and older. The rate (age-standardised) of hospitalisations for falls is over three times higher among residents of aged care facilities than among the other older people.
- Age-standardised rates of fall-related hospitalisations among older have been increasing for more than 10 years.
- Even non-injuries falls can have negative impacts such as loss of confidence and activity restriction.
- Falls are the most commonly reported adverse event among hospital inpatients.
Falls generate substantial costs for the health care system and aged care system
- Hospital stays and rehabilitation can be long and expensive. Having had a recent fall is one of the leading reasons for premature admission to residential aged care.
- In NSW, no other single injury cause, including road trauma, costs the health system more than fall injury.
- In NSW in 2006/07 the total cost of health care associated with fall injury was estimated at $558.5 million. Hospital admitted cases accounted for an estimated 84.5% of total costs and ED presentations for 9% of total costs.
The burden from fall related harm among older people will grow unless action is taken.
- Projections indicate that without preventative action, the health system costs from fall injury are likely to show a dramatic escalation due to expected large increase in the number of older people in NSW in upcoming years.
Falls can be prevented
- There has been extensive research demonstrating that many falls among older people can be prevented, even in frail older people.
Reference Prevention of Falls and Harm from Falls among Older People 2011-2015 NSW Health PD2011_029
CEC is supporting local health districts (LHD) to implement the 2009 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) falls prevention best practice guidelines in NSW health clinical settings as follows:
Hospital Sector
- Identify people at risk of falls and implementing strategies to care for them.
- Implementing post-fall guidelines.
- Reporting and monitoring of fall incidents and providing feedback to ward staff.
Community sector
- Developing collaboration between health and community service providers.
- Identify falls risk factors and implementing strategies to care for people at risk, including referral to suitable programs offered by community health teams, general practitioners, Ambulance Service NSW and community service providers.
Residential care sector
- Supporting providers of residential aged care with implementation of the falls best-practice guidelines.
The NSW Falls Prevention Network
The purpose of the network is to share falls prevention knowledge, expertise, and resources across the three settings mentioned above. The role of this network includes:
- Forums for discussion of falls related issues;
- Dissemination of models of good practice, a bi-monthly newsletter and research findings both local and international.
To join visit the NSW Falls Prevention Network website.
Resources
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare 2009 Falls Prevention Best Practice Guidelines
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals, Residential Aged Care Facilities and Community Care 2009 were endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers in November 2009.
Research has shown that falls can be prevented. The guidelines are to inform clinical practice in three settings: the hospital, community care and residential aged care.
About the Guidelines
For each setting there is a Guideline which provides the evidence-base and a Guidebook which is a shorter version of the Guideline designed for front-line staff.
Learn more about the Falls Prevention Guidelines or click on the link or the image in which you work for the relevant guidelines, guidebook and fact sheets.
Hospital |
Community |
Residential Care |
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- Also available - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare 2009 Falls Prevention Implementation guidelines for Hospital and Residential Aged Care facilities. - PDF ~ 1.32MB
- Summary of Hospital Falls Prevention Strategies - PDF ~140kb
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Falls Prevention in Hospitals: For older person aged 65 years or over
- PDF ~252kb | TXT ~2kb - Draft Post Fall Assessment and Management for ALL adult patients - PDF ~336kb
- Draft Guidance Post Fall guideline, October 2011 - PDF ~456kb
- Draft Revised Post Fall algorithm, October 2011 - PDF ~432kb
- Summary of Community Care Falls Prevention Strategies - PDF ~140kb
- “Falls Look Out Please” - PDF ~124kb
- Special Edition NSW Falls Prevention Network Newsletter - PDF ~435kb
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) - Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals, Residential Aged Care Facilities and Community Care 2009
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Staying active and on your feet
A useful booklet for patients and carers with exercises to do at home, plus lifestyle and home safety checklists. | PDF ~1.6mb
Or order this resource by completing the order form | PDF ~380kb -
Active and Healthy website and information sheet | weblink | PDF ~608kb
A useful website to find a falls prevention exercise program in your local community. Programs include Tai Chi, Stepping On, Gentle Exercises and more.
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CEC Staying active and on your feet/Fall Proof yourself - information sheet
Useful falls prevention information sheet | PDF ~124kb
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CEC Falls Prevention and Bone Health/Fall proof yourself – information sheet
Useful falls prevention and bone health information sheet | PDF ~720kb
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Don’t Fall for it….Falls can be prevented
Department of Health and Ageing A useful booklet for patients and carers.
It can be downloaded | booklet - PDF ~3095kb or by section Hard copies are no longer available - Community Education Forums
- Tai Chi, Balance and Strength exercise demonstrations and promotion of classes in your Area
- Displays in Hospitals - information for patients, their families and staff
- Staff education throughout April on Preventing Falls
- April Falls Day, 2011 - Fall Links | PDF ~1.8mb
- April Falls Day, 2010 - Fall Links | PDF ~1.8mb - CEC Falls Day | PDF ~475kb
- April Falls Day, 2009 - Fall Links | PDF ~552kb
Hospital
For further information or comment on the Draft Post Fall Assessment and Management please contact Lorraine Lovitt, Leader NSW Falls Prevention Program at falls@cec.health.nsw.gov.au
Community Care
CEC Poster
Further information on the Guidelines
How to order
NSW Health staff who would like a limited number of copies please complete the Order Form - PDF ~420kb (New Form)
All other persons interested in obtaining a copy of the guideline, guidebook and CD (private providers, non-government agencies, community care and residential aged care) you can purchase copies from the Queensland Government Bookshop.
Website: https://www.bookshop.qld.gov.au/ProductBrowse.aspx?Category=SXXF257501
Phone: 13 13 04
Email: service@sds.qld.gov.au
The guidelines cost around $19, the guidebooks $5 and a CD $1.25 each.
Preventing Falls in NSW Hospitals
The aim of this CD/DVD resource is to facilitate staff to discuss common fall events on their wards and take action to prevent them.
There are 4, fall case studies of varying severity that are highlighted in this package; they are examples of actual fall events that have occurred in hospital. Following the fall event is the post fall procedures and an alternative approach to prevent the fall. The information is based on the Safety and Quality Council Best Practice Guidelines for Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls in older people, 2005 and actual Fall events recorded in the NSW Health Incident Information Management System (IIMS).
PowerPoint presentations and Video now available to view online »
For a copy of the CD/DVD which includes the PowerPoint presentations and video along with the education manual which highlights how to best run the education session with a group of clinicians, please contact CEC staff:
Phone: 02 9269 5516
Email: falls@cec.health.nsw.gov.au
Consumer resources
Monday 2nd April is 2012 April Falls Day
Many NSW health facilities have been running April Falls Day activities during the month of April for a number of years. It's a great way to involve patients, families, carers and the community in raising awareness about falls prevention.
Some ideas for April Falls Day/Month
Previous April Falls Day Events
Contact the NSW Falls Prevention team at the Clinical Excellence Commission:-
Email: falls@cec.health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02.92695516
Ms Lorraine Lovitt
NSW Leader, NSW Falls Prevention Program
Clinical Excellence Commission
Locked Bag A4062
Sydney South NSW 1235
(02) 6656 5326
lorraine.lovitt@cec.health.nsw.gov.au
Maree Connolly,
Project Officer, NSW Falls Prevention Program
(02) 9269 5516
maree.connolly@cec.health.nsw.gov.au
