An intervention is an action taken which helps to treat, ease or improve a certain condition. Staff should use a combination of interventions which are tailored to the individual need of the person following assessment. This is known as multi-factorial interventions (Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals 2009).
Patients at risk of falls should be referred to Physiotherapy for balance, gait and mobility assessment and to the Occupational Therapist for functional assessment.
Medical staff should be alerted if a person is at risk of falls to enable detection /treatment of delirium, cardiovascular illness, medication review, eyesight/hearing problems, neurological assessment or cognition assessment.
Falls Sensors
A leaflet for patients and families/carers: Falls Sensor Leaflet
Information for staff, patients, families/carers: Guidelines for Falls Sensors
Falls Monitor Checklist
Product Ordering
Falls Prevention Socks and Medline’s Yellow Falls kits (yellow socks and blankets) are available to order on PECOS
Falls Kits Code: MDTEFPKIT
Link to Medline’s Falls prevention products (including codes): Falls Prevention | Medline UK
Falls Risk Graphic Sign:
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Falls Risk Information Poster: Falls risk information poster
Best Practise Information to help prevent falls in hospitals
The following best practise has been evidenced from care rounding tool and risk assessments:
- All patients must have a falls assessment completed
- All patients must have a bedrail risk assessment completed
- Identify patients with cognitive impairment / communication difficulties (eyesight / hearing /language barrier) or known not to ask for assistance
- Ensure provision of close observation whilst using toileting or washing facilities (for patients identified with cognitive impairment)
- If glasses and/or hearing aids are worn they should be available and in working order
- Assessment of patient’s mobility needs should be completed on admission and considered in alignment with falls risk
- Provision of walking aid as required and is kept within patient’s reach
- To promote patient’s optimal mobility safety – ensure bed area is de-cluttered and chair and bed are consistently at the best height
- Ensure appropriate footwear is worn prior to mobilisation
- Call bell is within reach and working and patient can use reliably
Discharge from Hospital
Patients at risk of falling in hospital may still be at risk when discharged. It is important to provide the patient and their family or carers with information on how to prevent further falls or refer on for further treatment.
Please refer to the Information and leaflets in the Downloadable Training Resources section.
