Background: Falls awareness and falls prevention are a priority for health care providers of older adults (DoHC, HSE,

NCAOP, 2008). According to the Burden of Care study falls in 2004 cost our economy €402 million and projected to cost

€2043 million by 2030 with our ageing population (Gannon et al, 2008).

Action Research: A Collaborative Approach to Falls Prevention and Management

Daragh Rodger RGN, RNP, RANP, MSc, & Anne Spencer RN, BA (Hons), MSc

Methodology: Action research

taking a multidisciplinary approach

Data collection on falls pre

programme development and

implementation of a new falls

awareness and prevention

programme

Data collection on falls post

implementation of the programme

Results: A reduction in the

number of falls across the campus

by 35%.

A new data measurement – data

collected on the number of

interventions to prevent a potential

fall.

Development of the Forever

Autumn Community of Practice

bringing falls awareness to a wider

audience

Conclusion: Forever Autumn has

placed falls prevention and

management on the agenda within

our healthcare organisation and

beyond. The reduction of falls and

potential falls data is evidence to

our staff of their commitment to

making falls prevention and

management a priority for the

older adults in our care.

Objectives: To raise awareness of

falls among all staff groups.

To enhance the safety of the

patients and residents in our care.

To reduce the costs associated

with falls – financial, physical and

psychological.

www.bonehealth.co www.foreverautumn.co

References

Department of Health & Children. Health Service Executive, National Council on Ageing & Older People (2008) Strategy to Prevent Falls and

Falls Related Injuries

Gannon, B., O'Shea, E. & Hudson, E. (2008) “Economic cost of falls and fractures among older people in Ireland”. Irish Medical Journal, Vol.

101(6)