Falls are common in people aged over 65 years, and are a leading cause of injury in this age group. They can have serious consequences, including trauma, pain, impaired function, and loss of confidence in carrying out everyday activities. They can also result in a loss of independence and autonomy.
According to the NSW Department of Health:
- More than 1 in 4 people aged 65 years or over have at least 1 fall per year, and many fall more than once
- Each year, falls in NSW lead to approximately 27,000 hospitalisations
- Falls are the most commonly reported adverse event among hospital inpatients
- Non-injurious falls can still have negative impacts such as loss of confidence and activity restriction
- Having had a recent fall is one of the leading reasons for premature admission to residential aged care
The Falls Risk Assessment is usually part of the Home Environment Assessment and is also combined with the Quick Screen Assessment. Your physical and cognitive function is determined and assessed in the context of their environment and the activities they perform. We use the NeuRA QuickScreen Clinical Falls Risk Assessment, which identifies people at risk of falls. This pinpoints which specific risk factors are placing you at risk, and guides intervention to prevent future falls. Developed by the University of NSW, this tool measures visual acuity, peripheral sensory neural input, balance, and strength and reaction time, as well as considering other falls risk factors such as medication, previous falls, and cognitive function.
Learning how to get up from the floor by yourself can be lifesaving. During our training, you will gain the practical knowledge and skills required to get up from the floor, as well as the confidence and patience to implement the training should you ever have to rely on yourself to get up after a fall.
If you would like to book an appointment with one of our Occupational Therapists for an assessment, or to find out more about the service, please contact our office on 1300 511 887.
