FALLS PREVENTION

Falls prevention physiotherapy for aged care in Melbourne.

ACP takes a practical, multifactorial approach to falls prevention in residential aged care and community settings.

LOOKING BEYOND THE FALL

A fall is often the end result of several factors.

Rather than treating falls as a single mobility problem, we consider the person's physical function, behaviour, health, routine and environment. This helps identify actions that are relevant to the individual and the care team.

Mobility & transfers

Walking, turning, bed mobility, sit-to-stand and transfer ability, including the level of assistance required.

Strength, balance & exercise

Lower-limb strength, balance, endurance and the person's ability to complete meaningful functional activity.

Pain & physical function

Pain, stiffness and physical limitations that may alter gait, transfers, confidence or activity.

Cognition, behaviour & communication

Factors affecting safety awareness, instructions, impulsivity, communication and participation.

Continence & toileting

Urgency, night-time toileting, bathroom access and the assistance required during personal care.

Medical & medication factors

Relevant health changes, dizziness, weakness, fatigue and medication-related issues requiring wider clinical review.

Environment & equipment

Room layout, flooring, lighting, footwear, mobility aids, sensor mats, wheelchairs and other equipment.

Nutrition, hydration & sleep

Daily routines and factors such as fatigue, hydration and sleep that may influence function and falls risk.

Injury prevention

Strategies to reduce the consequences of a fall and support appropriate equipment, assistance and response.

AFTER A FALL

Turn an incident into useful clinical action.

Where appropriate, ACP can contribute to a post-fall review by considering what happened, what may have contributed, whether the resident's function has changed and what practical actions should follow.

The focus is not simply on completing a form. It is on identifying changes that the care team can understand and act on.

FACILITY-WIDE APPROACH

Falls prevention is a team activity.

Physiotherapists can provide assessment and clinical recommendations, but prevention also depends on nursing, care staff, equipment, environment, medical management and consistent communication.

Assess

Understand the person and the circumstances around the risk or fall.

Identify

Separate modifiable factors from factors that require broader clinical management.

Act

Translate findings into practical care, equipment and environmental actions.

Review

Reassess when the person's function, health or circumstances change.

FALLS SUPPORT

Want a more practical falls prevention approach?

Talk to ACP about resident assessment, post-fall review, staff education or a broader facility falls strategy.

Talk to ACP

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