Falls and the consequences of falls can significantly impact a person's wellbeing, mobility and confidence. Older people living in care homes are three times more likely to fall than older people living in their own homes, with the results of these falls often being more serious.
Many factors can contribute to this heightened risk, such as physical frailty, the presence of long term conditions, physical inactivity, taking multiple medications and the unfamiliarity of new surroundings. However, in many cases taking the right steps at the right time can actively support an individual and reduce the risk of falls and harm from falls. (Care Inspectorate)
In 2016, the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Government issued a revised edition of the Managing Falls and Fractures in Care Homes for Older People Good Practice Resource.
Perth & Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership encourages all care homes to consider the following;
- Complete the electronic self assessment (PDF, 270 KB). (This is an electronic tool which you can download to your computer. It enables you to evidence your current practice and identify gaps for improvement. It is easy to complete and then update regularly as you progress.
- Create your own care home falls resource. Care Homes should:
- Print off the Falls and Fracture - Falls and Fracture - new resource (PDF, 1 MB) and compile a falls folder (perhaps in poly pockets).
- Within each section consider the tools, paperwork, assessments, policies, protocols, information which are specific to your care home and add in at the appropriate point. Please see Guidance on good practice resource (PDF, 201 KB).
- When completing this there are a range of tools available on the Care Inspectorate falls website. Perth & Kinross also have adapted some of these tools which you may wish to consider:
- Perth & Kinross Falls Service Care Home Multifactorial Falls Risk Assessment and Management Tool (PDF, 140 KB) (Including Osteoporosis Risk Screen)
- Care Home Post Fall Report (PDF, 147 KB)
- Intervention triggers to assist with compiling residents falls care plan (PDF, 94 KB) (this has been adapted from the Care Inspectorate tool into one page.
- Generic Environmental Falls Risk Assessment (PDF, 136 KB)
- Pathway for Managing a Resident who has just fallen (PDF, 85 KB)
- Wheelchair and walking aid inspection (PDF, 136 KB)
- This resource then becomes an active live training resource for all staff to access
Falls - Train the trainer
The Perth & Kinross Service Manager is training key individuals from care homes to deliver falls awareness education programmes to their staff. The following is supporting this
- Guidance for Care Home Staff Providing Falls Prevention Training Session (PDF, 158 KB)
- Falls DVD - an easy to watch DVD suitable for all staff working within the care home including staff not directly involved with residents care. Falls prevention is everyone's responsibility.
- Sample Power presentation (PDF, 818 KB) which can be adapted
- Care Home fall training handout (PDF, 322 KB). Can be used instead of or in conjunction with PP and issued to all staff at end.
- Case study and discussion questions (PDF, 140 KB)
- Case study discussion points (PDF, 350 KB)
- Falls & Osteoporosis Quiz (PDF, 177 KB)
- Care Inspectorate Falls Quiz (PDF, 184 KB) and Answers (PDF, 210 KB)
- Sample scenario case study Mary (PDF, 66 KB)
- Sample Case Study using P&K Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PDF, 167 KB)
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