November is health service falls prevention month, putting hospital falls prevention and health promotion in the spotlight.
Now is a perfect time to audit compliance with falls-related policy, address gaps in compliance, refresh skills and celebrate high performance. It is also a time to identify and reduce the risk of slips, trips, or falls in the workplace.
Falls are a significant burden to the WA health system and a leading cause of injury fatalities and hospitalisations.
Healthcare services, providers and workers are encouraged to promote falls prevention when working in areas caring for older people and as part of any discussions about healthy aging.
Conversations about falls are critical to counter the predicted rise in falls over the next few years. COVID-19 restrictions have increased the risk of falls related illness and injury due to sedentary behaviours becoming more widespread both during lockdowns and in the longer term.
To combat the predicted increase in falls, general lifestyle factors related to healthy diet and exercise should be incorporated into all fall prevention programs and discussions.
For more information visit Falls prevention and management in WA.