Overview of the Sheltered Housing Wardens Falls Education

Programme

Carolyn Wilson

Falls Service Manager Perth and Kinross

01738 473146carolynwilson@nhs.net

Up and About Pathway

Sheltered Housing Wardens may be involved in:

Stage 1: Supporting active ageing – falls prevention, health improvement, exercise/activity promotion

Stage 2: Identification of fallers and referral on for stage 4.

Stage 3: Responding to an individual who has just fallen

Learning Outcomes for P&K Falls Training Programme

• Understand the extent of the problem

• Have insight into the consequences of falling

• Have increased awareness of falls risk factors

• Identify falls risk and prevention strategies including referring on

• Involve tenants with falls prevention and have tools to deliver a Falls Education Programme for tenants.

Session programme

• Introduction to falls• Falls education and how you might get the key

points over to tenants.• Consequences of falls, additional causes• Dealing with fallen tenant• Post fall checklist• Pathway to falls service• Environmental• Additional including Home Safety Officer,

Datalink, Telecare

Methods of Raising Awareness

• Falls Prevention literature

• Posters, Bookmarks

• One-to-one

• Carer education

• Lecture style teaching

• Planned structured group programme

• Ad-hoc – when situations arise

Falls Education Groups

• Allows tenants interaction

• Opportunity to share experiences

• Stimulate group members to think, to feel and to act.

• Provide psychological, social and physical support.

• Provide advise, support and supply information.

• Can be less intensive than one-to–one.

• Targets more people at one time.

• Groups are not for everyone!

• The following provides a possible framework – can do in as many or as few sessions as wish!!

Possible Programme Plan

• Session 1 -  Introduction to Falls Awareness.

• Session 2 – Transfers/Posture/Exercise

• Session 3/4 – Eyesight/Footcare and Footwear/Diet/ Medication

• Session 5 – Environment

• Session 6 - What to do if have a fall

Session 1

• Group exercise – 3 causes of a fall and action

• Discuss above together

• Video/DVD (if have one)

• Group discussion on falling – How? Why? Where? When? How coped? Lessons learned

Session 2•Revision of any important issues of session 1

•Transfer Advice/Practice

•Balance and Posture Advise

•Discussion on how our bodies are if tense/ relaxed and advise on this.

•Moving around safely and promotion of exercise

Posters in manual

Session 3/4

• Reinforce any issues from previous 2 session

• Cover issues on the following

• Eyesight

• Footcare and Footwear

• Dietary advise

• Medication

Session 5

• Environmental Aspects

• Use Falls handout

• Refer to Video

• Exercise on identifying bad aspects from the adapted ROSPA posters

• Discussion as to aspects they may consider changing within their own homes and when outdoors

Session 6

•Reinforce all of above

•What to do if have a fall – demonstrate

•Possibly have a community alarm pendant and discuss how this works, discuss pull cords system.

•Rest and wait plan.

•Evaluation of previous weeks

Also if a tenant mentions they have had a fall

• Ask WHY they thought they fell? • WHERE they fell?

• WHAT they were doing?

• HOW they coped?

• Any WARNINGS prior to fall?

• List all possible causes

Post Fall Checklist

• Sheltered Housing Wardens can refer clients to the Falls Service.

• Protocol - > 2 falls in 6 month period.

• Simpson Falls Clinic staff will allocate referral to most appropriate Clinic or to the Community Falls Assessment Service.

• Local Authority Sheltered Housing log fall on Swift and picked up by Community Alarm Falls Assessor.

• GP will receive a discharge/outcome letter following assessment and/or treatment

Referring Tenants to the Falls Assessment Service

Any Questions