Tag: falls

New funding for app to support people at risk of falls

An innovative digital project to help people who fall or are at high risk of falling has secured funding for its second phase.
 
No Need To Fall is being co-designed with people who have lived experience of falls and those who provide support and care and the wider workforce.
 
The project is being led in NHS Lanarkshire by Dr Ana Talbot In collaboration with North and South Lanarkshire Councils HSCPs, the University of Strathclyde, Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre and six local and national voluntary sector charities, with project management provided by Sophie Bagnall at the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde-hosted West of Scotland Innovation Hub.
 
Phase 2 of the project will see daily care and support needs being addressed and prepare appropriate responses in the event of a fall.
 
The team will use the roll out of a new digital alarm receiving platform to early adopters in Scotland in early 2024 to explore the opportunities around digital tools to helps responders in the event of a person having a fall.
 
Research from Phase 1 of this project found people who draw on support and care feel falls are an inevitable part of ageing, but also blame themselves when they occur.
 
They often avoid using technology that could help due to negative associations with ageing and may have lower levels of digital literacy.
 
The project seeks to address a number of these findings and provide digital solutions that are empowering, support relational aspects and prevent falls. 


Project lead Dr Ana Talbot, Consultant in Older Adult Medicine, NHS Lanarkshire, and West of Scotland Innovation Hub Clinical Fellow, said: “Moving into Phase 2 of this project allows us to more fully explore how we can address the needs of people who draw on support and care and those that provide it utilising the opportunities around digital tools.  
 
“Addressing digital literacy and giving people the confidence to use this technology, which is now commonplace, is a very important part of how we approach support and care.
 
“I am delighted that we as a team are working with our partners to improve outcomes for people who have some of the highest risk of falls.”
 
The project is being supported by The Health Foundation.
 
Visit the West of Scotland innovation Hub website for more information on healthcare innovation.

New aquatic exercise research for fall prevention looking for participants

Have a history of falling, or at risk of falling?

New aquatic exercise research for fall prevention looking for participants to get involved

An exciting new aquatic exercise research study is looking for participants to get involved.

Aqua Steps, is a new exercise programme, developed by experts in the field from the University of Edinburgh, Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Leisure. The programmes are delivered as part of a research project, and aims to improve the balance, strength, endurance, confidence, and independence of the participants.

One-third of people aged 65 years or over fall every year with more than 4 million people falling each year in the UK, which is approximately 11,000 people daily. Falls reduce quality of life, lead to nursing home admissions, cause about 90% of hip fractures and half of deaths due to injury. The annual NHS and social care cost for fall-related injuries is more than £3.3 billion.

Older adults who have some of the following:  feel unstable/unsteady; have poor gait or balance, have a history of falling or are at risk of falling, have low bone density or previous fracture are encouraged to get in touch to take part.

Dr Stelios Psycharakis, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics at the University of Edinburgh said: “Aquatic exercise can improve many of these factors and has many benefits.

“For example, the buoyancy of the water reduces spine and joint loads and allows exercising without having to support one’s weight, while the pressure of the water on the body assists with balance and mobility which may be preferable for people who find land exercise challenging or have high risk/fear of falling.”

Amy Fastier, Health Development Officer (Falls Prevention) at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Edinburgh. 

“The study is looking to see if water-based classes have similar benefits as land based as there is no current research on water based activity in preventing falls. 

“Participants don’t need to be strong swimmers as the exercises take place in shallow water and everyone will be encouraged to work at their own pace during the class, guided by our expert instructors.

“People who may have difficulty getting in and out of the pool without some help, are welcome to bring along a family member, carer, or friend.  

“Pools hoists (for safe entry/exit from the water) are available at swimming pools and will be used when necessary.”

High-quality research on aquatic exercise in fall prevention is scarce.  This programme will deliver an aquatic intervention for people with high risk of falls. The data we get will be used to look at the programme’s effects on falls risk and compare it with an established land-based programme, Steady Steps, which is delivered by Edinburgh Leisure to see whether there are similar benefits to the existing research on land-based classes.

The classes are free, with the cost covered by funding provided by the Chief Scientist Office for Scotland. The exercise sessions will take place in the shallow water only in one of five swimming pools in Edinburgh and Midlothian*.

The pools are Warrender Swim Centre (Marchmont), Dalry Swim Centre (Dalry), Ainslie Park Leisure Centre (Inverleith/Pilton), Glenogle Swim Centre (Stockbridge) and Penicuik Leisure Centre (Penicuik).

Participants would be required to attend for two sessions per week (30 minutes in the water for each session) over a course of 16 weeks.  Different time slots will be available.

The programme will start in the first week of March 2024 (last week of March for Penicuik).

Interested parties willing to take part should contact the Aqua Steps administrator, Diane Chirnside on AquaSteps@ed.ac.uk and will be assessed for their willingness/ability to participate and complete the intervention. 

Spaces are limited so people are encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible, and ideally by early to mid-February.

Research shows avoidable falls in the home can be reduced by 69 per cent

Avoidable falls in the home can be reduced up to 69 per cent with the right information and support in place, that’s according to the launch of a new report released today by Trent & Dove Housing Association and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

The report analyses a pioneering joint project between the two organisations that investigated the incidence and causes of avoidable falls among housing associations tenants and empowered them with the tools and support to implement personal prevention measures. This was achieved through educational sessions for customers, staff and community groups, and home visits to help people identify and address hazards.

One hundred and sixty-one customers received a home visit from Trent & Dove’s customer health and safety advisor (CHSA) between September 2022 and May 2023. These were to houses, general-needs flats, bungalows, and sheltered scheme flats. 55 per cent of customers visited had had a fall in the 12 months before their home visit, more than the NICE annual national averages. Sixty per cent were reliant on a mobility aid including sticks, scooters, walkers, and crutches.

During visits, the CHSA conducted fall focused home safety checks introduced tenants to RoSPA’s Fall Fighter material and given tailored home safety advice.

After the visit, 90 per cent said they knew more about fall prevention, 91 per cent felt safer at home, 74 per cent took action to avoid a fall at home and 73 per cent felt less likely to have a fall at home. Sixty nine per cent of those in the pilot study experienced a reduction in avoidable falls.

Jules Robinson, Fall Prevention Lead at RoSPA and former Trent & Dove employee, said: “There are approximately 1,500 housing associations in the UK with a reach of 4.4 million households, so we urge all of those to act and as a starting point, implement fall RoSPA’s Fall Fighters which is free.

“While housing associations can understand the benefits of putting fall prevention at the heart of their strategies, it can seem like a costly exercise. But there is a strong business case to do so – by assessing tenant needs, they may be able to transition to a smaller, more suitable home, and by receiving lifestyle and safety advice, they’re better prepared to look after themselves and the property.”

Anna Hickman, Head of Health and Safety at Trent & Dove, said: “We are buoyed by our research that shows that we can make a difference to tenants’ lives by reducing avoidable falls through taking relatively simple measures to ensure they feel safe and confident in their own homes.

“Until now there has been relatively little data for those in the housing sector about falls in the home, so we hope our work paves the way for other housing associations that are passionate about saving and improving lives.”

To explore falls related resources and learn more about RoSPA’s Fall Fighter training, please see here.

Fall-Prevention-Project-Full-ReportDownload

Falls are still major killer in Britain, warns charity this Injury Awareness Week

  • Falls are the second biggest killer of unintential injury deaths, just behind road traffic accidents
  • Falls cost the NHS £2 billion a year but are preventable
  • What can people to do prevent falls? Read on to find out more.

Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide but do not have to happen, that’s according to a leading accident prevention charity, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Falls are the most common cause of death in the over 65s and cost the NHS £2 billion and over four million bed days every year, and 37.2 million falls are severe enough to require medical attention each year.

RoSPA’s Fall Fighters scheme is open to businesses of all shapes and sizes across the UK, from housing associations and manufacturing sites to small offices and more. It helps them keep their clients, communities and colleagues safe by giving them the tools they need to help reduce the risk of falls.

RoSPA’s Fall Fighters scheme builds on the World Health Organisation’s advice, that states prevention strategies should emphasise education, training, creating safer environments, prioritising fall-related research and establishing effective policies to reduce risk.

Karen McDonnell, OHS Policy Advisor at RoSPA, said: “Injury Awareness Week offers the perfect time to reflect on the types of accidents that can be life-limiting and life-changing – and out of all the accidents that come to mind – falls are one of the most urgent issues we face.

“A fall at home or work has the power to strip someone of their independence, their health and their livelihood in a matter of seconds, and we must all play our part in helping our colleagues, friends and loved ones reduce the risk of succumbing to such an accident.”

Karen recommends taking a few simple steps to keep yourself and loved ones safe at home: “Stairs are the most common place for an accident in the home, so always keep them clear of belongings and ensure there is enough space to walk up them. We know that having a handrail on either side of the stairwell can improve stability and significantly reduces the risk of falls, so this is a simple addition that can save lives.

“Another common place for slips, trips and falls is the bathroom, and slippery floors are often to blame. Having anti-slip flooring installed can be vital in keeping you and your loved ones safe, particularly when it comes to elderly relatives.

“It’s particularly easy to miss small objects, cords and electrical cables on the floor so these pose fall hazard too. If you can, always keep them out of walkways and keep them as close to the wall as possible.

“Finally, if you are worried about a relative’s risk of falling, do a risk assessment of their living area and ensure you’re fully up to date with the latest research in fall prevention, head to the RoSPA Falls Hub and get one step ahead.”

Speaking on how to reduce falls in the workplace, Karen said: “The importance of fall reduction in the workplace is vital in keeping employees safe and operations moving – so we call for stringent workplace safety regulations, particularly in high-risk occupations like construction and manufacturing.

“We advocate having physical barriers and guardrails to prevent falls from heights and to use scaffolding if a guardrail is not possible. Appropriate signage, fall arrest systems like body harnesses, self-retracting lanyards and approved anchor points are non-negotiables, as is a proper risk assessment from an internal health and safety team or external supplier like RoSPA.”

To find out more about falls, please visit RoSPA’s Falls Prevention Hub, or sign up to be a Fall Fighter in your workplace for free here.

Don’t fall for it: health and safety tips for older people

‘Take Small Steps to Stay on Your Feet’ campaign launched 

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A new campaign to encourage older people to keep fit and healthy by avoiding falls has been launched by the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian.

‘Take Small Steps to Stay on your Feet’ gives older people five easy tips to try and prevent falls and also information about what to do if they do suffer one.

Falls are a major problem for older people with more than 30% of over 65’s falling every year, with many more than once.

They can cause physical injuries such as fractures and head injuries and also psychological harm along with longer term problems such as disability, loss of independence and social isolation.

In Scotland the cost of falls by older people living in the community has been estimated to exceed £471m every year.

The new campaign has five top tips for older people:

  • Get checked out top to toe – have your eyes and hearing tested regularly, wear shoes and slippers that are comfortable and fit properly, and get your GP to regularly review your prescription medications
  • Calcium keeps bones strong – eat a well balanced diet that contains calcium rich foods like dairy products, green leafy vegetables, bread and fish
  • Get enough Vitamin D – to help keep your bones strong. Natural sunlight is a good way or take supplements from your GP or pharmacist
  • Stay active – exercise such as walking, gardening and dancing can strengthen muscles, bones and improve balance
  • Clear your way at home – make sure there’s nothing that might cause someone to trip or bump into them such as rugs, loose carpets and items lying on the floor
  • In addition, the campaign advises older people what to do if they have a fall. These include: move to a soft surface, keep warm, call for help and keep moving. There is also information about the best ways to get up after a fall.
Councillor Ricky Henderson, Health and Social Care Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s important people realise that falling is not an inevitable part of getting older as many falls can be prevented. By making a few simple changes, older people can reduce the risk of falling both in and out of the home.
“The consequences of a fall can be devastating but by following these five easy tips we can make a real difference to older people’s lives.”
Lynne Douglas, Corporate Lead for Falls Prevention and Bone Health, NHS Lothian, said:  “Preventing falls is vital in helping older people to live well and safely in their communities. This is an excellent initiative which is a result of collaboration between NHS Lothian services and City of Edinburgh Council and we hope that, most importantly, it will make a difference to the lives of older people in Edinburgh.”
Leaflets and posters highlighting the campaign will be issued to surgeries, pharmacists, libraries, care homes and sheltered housing complexes in the coming weeks.
More information about ‘Take Small Steps to Stay on your Feet’ can be found at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/fiveeasysteps or www.nhsinform.co.uk/falls.
Alternatively, phone NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88
(textphone 18001 0800 22 44 88).