Falls Risk Assessment
In Australia, falls-related injuries result in the hospitalisation of tens of thousands of older people each year and many hundreds of deaths. In the hospital setting, falls are a frequent reason for extended lengths of stay and often result in adverse consequences and complications. One in three Australians over the age of 65 experiences a fall each year. Common falls-related injuries include: hip and wrist fractures; head injuries, shoulder dislocations; abrasions, bruising, and loss of confidence.
Falls and falls-related injuries in the hospital setting can be prevented in a number of ways, including:
- Education of patients, staff and carers about falls risk factors and appropriate intervention strategies
- Orienting patients to the immediate environment and telling them how to obtain assistance
- Close monitoring of at-risk patients
- Ensuring a safe environment, e.g., dry floors, adequate lighting, stable furniture, uncluttered rooms and proper use of bedrails
In the video, Jenneke discusses the importance of assessing older clients for their risk of falling and mentions specific tools for doing this. Have a look at the flowchart on Page 13 and the falls-risk assessment tool on Page 14 of the Best Practice Guidelines link below, to see an example of how falls-risk can be assessed.
