This document provides background information on a falls and bone health learning resource pack developed in Ireland. The resource pack was created to provide frontline healthcare staff with knowledge and guidance on effective falls prevention programs based on best practices. It contains information on the magnitude of falls as a health problem, risk factors, and interventions. The goal is to improve staff education to help reduce falls among older adults. The resource pack contains chapters on falls prevention, osteoporosis, care settings, and planning education sessions. It is intended to give link staff tools to deliver consistent messages to multidisciplinary teams about their role in falls prevention.

1. FoundationFoundation LearningLearning
Resource PackResource Pack
Falls and Bone Health LearningFalls and Bone Health Learning
ResourceResource

2. BackgroundBackground
Strategy 2008
 American and British Geriatric Guidelines NICE
 Goal 1 : Increase awareness about the problem of
falls and fractures in high risk groups, their families
and communities, health personnel and policy makers
 Implementation ad hoc
 Hubs throughout the country;
excellent work happening

3. BackgroundBackground
 AFFINITY established 2013 ( Activiting Falls and Fracture
prevention in Ireland Together)
 Education and Learning group establishedEducation and Learning group established
 ReResourcesource PackPack developed to provide staff at the frontline withdeveloped to provide staff at the frontline with
knowledge andknowledge and informationinformation on effective falls prevention andon effective falls prevention and
bone health programmes, based on best practice nationally andbone health programmes, based on best practice nationally and
internationally.internationally.
 ToTo provide guidance for staff on how to have a co-ordinatedprovide guidance for staff on how to have a co-ordinated
approach to the prevention and management of falls withinapproach to the prevention and management of falls within
their setting.their setting.

4. BackgroundBackground

5. Knowledge and InformationKnowledge and Information
Aim: To improve the knowldege of staff in relation to fallsAim: To improve the knowldege of staff in relation to falls
prevention and Bone healthprevention and Bone health
 Staff education foundation to build falls preventionStaff education foundation to build falls prevention
programmesprogrammes
 Staff need to recognise the magnitude of the problemsStaff need to recognise the magnitude of the problems
 The consequences of fallsThe consequences of falls
 Risk factors that can lead to fallsRisk factors that can lead to falls
 Interventions to address risk factorsInterventions to address risk factors

6. Knowledge and InformationKnowledge and Information
 Education should be provided to all staffEducation should be provided to all staff

It everybodys business.It everybodys business. Everybody has a roleEverybody has a role
 The information needs to be consistentThe information needs to be consistent andand convey the sameconvey the same
messagemessage
 Most important message that participants come away with isMost important message that participants come away with is
that they can help reduce the number of falls and fall relatedthat they can help reduce the number of falls and fall related
injuries in their setting “injuries in their setting “Often less is moreOften less is more ““

7. Magnitude of the ProblemMagnitude of the Problem
 Falls a common and serious health problem with devastatingFalls a common and serious health problem with devastating
consequences (Al-Aama, 2011) and are a main cause ofconsequences (Al-Aama, 2011) and are a main cause of
morbidity and disability in older adults.morbidity and disability in older adults. AAn unnecessary causen unnecessary cause
of ill health and death.of ill health and death.
 Falls and fall related complications are the 5th leading causeFalls and fall related complications are the 5th leading cause
of death in the developed world (cited in Woolcott et al., 2009)of death in the developed world (cited in Woolcott et al., 2009)
 Evidence suggests that between 30% (Gillespie et al., 2009)Evidence suggests that between 30% (Gillespie et al., 2009)
andand “more than one third of persons 65 years of age or older”“more than one third of persons 65 years of age or older”
fall each year, and in half of such cases the falls are recurrentfall each year, and in half of such cases the falls are recurrent
(Tinetti & Kumar, 2011).(Tinetti & Kumar, 2011).

8. Magnitude of the ProblemMagnitude of the Problem
 A 15-30% reduction in falls could potentially realise aA 15-30% reduction in falls could potentially realise a
reduction nationally of up to 10,200 admissions per annumreduction nationally of up to 10,200 admissions per annum
which equates to 17.7million ( Primary care Team HSE Boardwhich equates to 17.7million ( Primary care Team HSE Board
report 2011)report 2011)
 Ireland has an aging population Today 11% are aged over 65Ireland has an aging population Today 11% are aged over 65
years (468,000). By 2031 that proportion will increase by 18%years (468,000). By 2031 that proportion will increase by 18%
to over one million people. The biggest will be among thoseto over one million people. The biggest will be among those
who are 80 years of age or morewho are 80 years of age or more

9. Education Resource PackEducation Resource Pack
 Falls Foundation programme for link staffFalls Foundation programme for link staff toto give them thegive them the
informationinformation knowledge needed to deliver learning sessions toknowledge needed to deliver learning sessions to
all health and social care workersall health and social care workers
Catergory of Health and social Care workers
 Catergory 1 –Health and social care workers who provideCatergory 1 –Health and social care workers who provide
support services e.g catering ,housekeeping ,administartivesupport services e.g catering ,housekeeping ,administartive
personnel , portering etcpersonnel , portering etc
 Catergory 2 Health and Social care workers who provideCatergory 2 Health and Social care workers who provide
direct clinical care to sercive users e.g nurses ,doctors all otherdirect clinical care to sercive users e.g nurses ,doctors all other
allied healthcare progesional and health care assistantsallied healthcare progesional and health care assistants

10. Foundation Education ResourceFoundation Education Resource
PackPack
 Designed to deliver information to froDesigned to deliver information to fronnt line staff in allt line staff in all
settings that is usable and can be applied to their own worksettings that is usable and can be applied to their own work
settingsetting

11. Foundation Education ResourceFoundation Education Resource
PackPack
 6 Chapters/ sections List of Resources Appendices and
Power Point Presentation
 All staff should attend a learning session on chapter 1& 2 andAll staff should attend a learning session on chapter 1& 2 and
then a session on the setting they work inthen a session on the setting they work in
 Chapter 1 Introduction to Falls Prevention and
Management
 Definition of fallDefinition of fall
 PrevalancePrevalance
 Cost consequencesCost consequences

12. Foundation Education ResourceFoundation Education Resource
PackPack
 Fear of falling one in four older Irish People report a fear ofFear of falling one in four older Irish People report a fear of
falling ( Tilda 2011)17% aged 50-64, 40% over 75yrs (Takefalling ( Tilda 2011)17% aged 50-64, 40% over 75yrs (Take
out later )out later )
 Reluctance to report fallsReluctance to report falls
 AAdvice for people who fall in their homedvice for people who fall in their home
 Introduction to screening and assessmentIntroduction to screening and assessment
 Falls risk AlertsFalls risk Alerts

13. Foundation Education ResourceFoundation Education Resource
PackPack
 Reporting fallsReporting falls
 Establishing a working group or part of another workingEstablishing a working group or part of another working workwork

14. Foundation Education ResourceFoundation Education Resource
PackPack
Chapter 2Chapter 2 Osteoporosis /Bone HealthOsteoporosis /Bone Health
 What is OsteoporosisWhat is Osteoporosis
 Risk factors ,prevention diagnoising treatmentRisk factors ,prevention diagnoising treatment
 Diet Exercise MedicationDiet Exercise Medication
 Falls and Bone Health have to be consideredFalls and Bone Health have to be considered
togethertogether

15. Foundation Education ResourceFoundation Education Resource
PackPack
Chapter 3,4 & 5Chapter 3,4 & 5
 Primary care , Acute Setting (Discharge) and ResidentialPrimary care , Acute Setting (Discharge) and Residential
Chapter 6Chapter 6
 Planning a learning sessionPlanning a learning session
Each ChapterEach Chapter
 At the end of each chapter their is a list of resources bothAt the end of each chapter their is a list of resources both
national and international that can supplement/ add to thenational and international that can supplement/ add to the
knowledge obtained in this resourceknowledge obtained in this resource
 Appendices Sample of policies , Screening assessment toolsAppendices Sample of policies , Screening assessment tools
Falls Safety Cross Algorthym etcFalls Safety Cross Algorthym etc

16. Planning deliveryPlanning delivery
 Link staff in each setting who will be responsible for deliveryLink staff in each setting who will be responsible for delivery
of the education sessionsof the education sessions
Key to planning a sessionKey to planning a session
 Identify target audience and choose what information is mostIdentify target audience and choose what information is most
relevantrelevant
 Tailor the session to the needs of the audiencesTailor the session to the needs of the audiences
 Consider the language it is a mixed multidisciplinary orConsider the language it is a mixed multidisciplinary or
specific discipspecific discipiilnelne
 Decide on session lenght and what will be coveredDecide on session lenght and what will be covered
 Can this fit in with in service trainingCan this fit in with in service training

17. Methods of DeliveryMethods of Delivery
 Slides /HandoutsSlides /Handouts Photo of flip chartPhoto of flip chart
 Case studies that are familiar to the participants / GroupCase studies that are familiar to the participants / Group
discussiondiscussion
 Record of attendanceRecord of attendance
 Review follow up on information being put into practiceReview follow up on information being put into practice

18. Independent and fall free