Fall Injury Prevention in Older People Policy

NAME OF DOCUMENT Fall injury prevention in Older People Policy
TYPE OF DOCUMENT Policy
DOCUMENT NUMBER PHAA150922
DATE OF PUBLICATION September 2015
RISK RATING The elderly population base at Australia are
exposed to a high incidence of fall and other
related injuries.
REVIEW DATE
Documents are to be reviewed a
maximum of three years from date
of issue
October 2018
FORMER REFERENCE(S)
Documents that are replaced by
this one
PD2011_029
EXECUTIVE SPONSOR or
EXECUTIVE CLINICAL
SPONSOR
Ministry of Health, NSW and Administrative
post holders of health care organizations
AUTHOR
Position responsible for the
document including email address
Richard Franklin & Lyndal Bugeja, Co-
Convenors, Injury Prevention SIG –
[e-mail];
[e-mail]
KEY TERMS Old age, fall, injury
SUMMARY
Brief summary of the contents of
the document
The alarming incidences of accidents caused
due to fall in the elderly patients predicted a
three-fold hike in the medical cost expenditure
related to fall intervention. However, injuries
related to fall can be prevented and predicted
to a significant extent. In order to effectively
implement fall prevention strategies it is
important to work in a coordinated manner with
the health care professionals across different
organization and compliance with the national
standard. This policy aims to enhance the
effectiveness of the prevention policies through

effective education and training of the
professionals.
Name of Policy: Advanced Fall Injury prevention in older people
1. POLICY STATEMENT: Incidences of fall and associated injury among the
elderly people can be prevented. The revised policy aims at improving the risk
screening methods so as to effectively detect patients who are vulnerable to injuries
caused due to fall. Further, the policy would access the readiness of the care givers
in providing care to the injured patients based upon their level of awareness in
administering effective intervention strategies.
2. AIMS: The revised policy aims at educating the nursing professionals and
other associated health care professionals to effectively deal with elderly patients
who have been injured and also promote their psychological well being. The policy
further aims to educate the professionals about providing a positive patient-centred
holistic care in order to provide assistance to the suffering patient as well as the
concerned family members. The policy also aims to empower the patients about self-
management strategies so that they can take the ownership of their medical
condition and cooperate with the nursing care plan for a speedy recovery.
3. TARGET AUDIENCE Old age patients, high risk old age patients, registered
nurses, health care professionals managing the geriatric unit
4. RESPONSIBILITIES The policy aims to create awareness campaigns in
collaboration with the following administrative bodies at the national, local as well as
the district level. The administrative bodies include:
The NSW Health Department, The Local Healthcare welfare Ministry, The clinical
excellence department and The private health care organizations

5. DEFINITIONS
Geriartic: Related to old people and health care issues
Elderly: People aged 65 years and above
Fall: The momentary disturbance of the balance that causes the body to
collapse to the ground
Holistic care: Providence of complete care based on physical as well as
mental wellness
6. DOCUMENTATION
Preventing falls and harm for falls in older people in Australia
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard
7. REFERENCES
O'Rourke, M. (2007). the australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care agenda for
improvement and implementation. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 2(2), 21.
8. REVISION & APPROVAL HISTORY
Date Revision No. Author and Approval
September
2015
150922_PHAA Co-Convenors, Injury Prevention