Poster presentation presenting an overview of a collaborative project to prevent falls in the older person

1. A Collaborative approach to
Prevention of Falls
Daragh Rodger
Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Care of the Older Adult Community
27th February 2014

2. Report of the
National Steering Group
on the
Prevention of Falls in
Older People and
the Prevention and
Management of
Osteoporosis
Falls strategy throughout Life
2008

3. Falls Facts and Figures
Fact
It is estimated that 30,000 older people attend
emergency departments (ED) or Primary Care
each year for treatment of fall related injuries.
Fact
Approximately 7,250 older people are admitted to
hospital for treatment of fall related injuries every
year
Fact
Of those who survive a hip fracture, less than half
regain their pre-fracture level of function, less
than 50% of people return directly home upon
hospital discharge and over 20% need long term
care.

4. Falls facts and Figures
Fact
It is estimated that one in every three
people over the age of 65 years and one
in two people over the age of 80 years
fall every year.
Fact
Falls are the dominant cause of injury in
older people where they account for 75%
of all injuries
Fact
In 2004 fall related injuries in older
people cost €402 million to the economy.
By 2020 the cost will be €922-€1077
million and by 2030 the cost will be
€1587 - €2043 million.

6. St Mary’s Healthy Ageing Clinic
DXA scan
Bone health assessment
Bone health Education
•Diet
•Exercise
•Lifestyle choice

7. Bone Density Results – Healthy Ageing Clinic
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2010
Osteoporosis
561
Osteopenia
465
Normal
621

8. Bone health through the ages
1-12yrs 13-22yrs Adult Over 80
years
Peak Bone Mass
Age related bone mass Age related bone loss

9. Bone Health in the Park

10. 10

11. www.bonehealth.co 11

12. Real Life Facts
• Ageing population
• In 2030 a number of the present day work force will
be over 50 years of age
• In 2030 many of us may/will fall and will be a statistic
• Through education we can help reduce these figures
12

13. Impact on Society
• Loss to family and community
• Cost - Overstretched economy
• Provision of services home care, respite care,
extended care
• Proactive approach required rather than reactive
• Education is key
13

14. FOREVER AUTUMN
Implementation of a falls awareness
programme for all staff – clinical and
non clinical, illustrating the potential for
falls amongst the older adults in our
care.
Elements included:
• Revision of St Mary’s Falls Prevention
and Management Policy
• New Falls Risk Assessment Tool
• New Falls Risk Symbols
• New Falls Reduction Measures

15. Key Message
All staff have a
role to play in
reducing the risk
of falls – clinical
and non clinical –
know your role!

16. Review of Falls Data from January - June 2013
Phoenix Park Community
Nursing Unit
33% Reduction*
St Mary’s Hospital 15% Reduction*
*Compared to falls data pre Forever Autumn in 2011
New Data Measurement
Interventions to prevent potential falls
Evidence to staff of benefits of Forever
Autumn Programme in action

17. St Mary’s Community Falls
Service
The Falls Service at St Mary’s Hospital is a
consultant Geriatrician led multidisciplinary
service offering the following:
– Clinical assessment by Nursing and Medical staff
– Investigations
– Physiotherapy assessment
– Occupational therapy assessment
– Social worker services
– Education & support

18. Poster Campaign
2013
Prompt patients to ask
about screening for
osteoporosis and will be
placed in key patient
waiting
Areas:-
• A&E department
• Fracture Clinic
• Outpatient clinic
• GP surgery
• Health centre
18

19. • Forever Autumn has generated a lot of interest from
multidisciplinary team members from hospitals and
residential units locally and nationally
• Forever Autumn has been implemented by other care
facilities
• Forever Autumn is an example of a successful
collaborative approach to innovative practice
development
• Over 16,450 visits to the web site in 12 months

20. To promote bone health, falls
reduction, falls prevention and
effective falls management
To provide a platform to share the
repository of information to the
wider community to enhance
quality care through presentations,
articles of interest, develop special
interest groups etc.

21. Development of an online resource to offer support,
guidance and continued education in falls prevention and
management across the care spectrum for older adults:-
•Acute Hospital Care
•Community Care
•Intellectual Disabilities Care
•Palliative Care
•Residential Care
Proactive collaborative approach to falls prevention by
providing a platform for continuing engagement
www.foreverautumn.co

22. www.foreverautumn.co

23. Reactive V Proactive
• System failure – too late to
react at point of hip fracture
• Screening - fracture liaison
services currently very poor
nationally
• 50% of those who suffered a
hip fracture in one site had
history of previous fracture
with no bone health
interventions (O Connor et al
2013)
• Is falls prevention on the
agenda???
• Currently national group
working towards the
implementation of the 2008
strategy
•Bone health – lifelong process
need to educate all ages
• Increase falls awareness –
potential for falls
• Falls prevention and reduction
across all care settings
• Goal is to reach as many as we
can in the most cost effective way