Supporting fall prevention in regional areas

As part of April Falls Month, the NSW Fall Prevention & Healthy Ageing Network Western NSW LHD Rural Forum, held on 12 April in Orange, provided valuable updates to care staff on the latest in fall prevention and healthy ageing. The aim was to support staff to provide high-quality, evidenced-based care with a focus on strategies to reduce risk & harm from falls.

The forum was a collaboration between Western NSW Local Health District, and their Falls Co-ordinator, Ashley Wright, the NSW Falls Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network and the Clinical Excellence Commission.

Topics covered included the importance of exercise and how to engage in local communities, improve medication management and falls prevention, and treating malnutrition. Professor Stephen Lord from Neuroscience Research Australia gave an update on the latest fall prevention research. Lorraine Lovitt from the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) outlined the CEC Comprehensive Care – Minimising Harm Model. This model focuses on holistic care for older individuals in hospital settings, helps identify specific patient risk factors and implements targeted interventions.

Recognising the geographic challenges of rural and regional settings, the forum also offered a virtual option, facilitating the participation of 60 attendees throughout the day. Presentation materials from the forum are accessible on the NSW Fall Prevention & Healthy Ageing Network website.

Attendees of NSW Fall Prevention & Healthy Ageing Network Western NSW LHD Rural Forum on 12 April 2024 in Orange.