As people get older, the risk of having a fall increases – about half of people who are over 80 and living in their own home will have a fall each year. A fall can have a significant impact on someone’s quality of life causing serious injury such as a fracture and psychological consequences, for example fear of further falls, anxiety and reduced independence.
For residents in care homes the risk of having a fall is significantly higher than people living in their own homes. They are likely to be frailer and have other medical conditions such as dementia, stroke or Parkinson’s disease, all of which increases their falls risk.
However, there are measures that can be put in place to reduce someone’s risk of having a fall. All residents should have a multifactorial falls risk assessment which may include falls history, assessment of gait and balance, cognitive assessment, assessment of visual impairment, foot health, medication etc. From this, an individualised care plan can be written which addresses each risk factor and an action plan can be implemented. For residents who fall frequently it is important to look at when and where in the home they fall in order to establish if there is a pattern to the falls.
The resources on this web page are aimed at all care home staff to assist them in reviewing and implementing falls prevention strategies in their care home.
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