Evaluating Fall Incidence as a Safeguarding Issue at Hazelwood

This report presents a research project evaluating the incidence of falls as a safeguarding issue at Hazelwood Care Home. The study, employing a qualitative research method and interpretivism philosophy, aimed to understand fall incidence, identify risk factors, investigate challenges faced by healthcare practitioners, and determine effective prevention measures. Data was collected from 10 healthcare practitioners using a questionnaire and analyzed thematically. Key findings indicate that inappropriate use of side rails, wet floors, equipment clutter, and medications are significant risk factors. The study also highlights challenges such as lack of clinical skills and emphasizes effective interventions like patient and family education. The conclusion underscores the importance of preventive measures, including staff training and proper equipment maintenance, to reduce fall incidents and improve patient safety. The study provides valuable insights into fall prevention strategies within care home settings.

UNIT 18 INNOVATION AND
IMPROVEMENT THROUGH
ACTION RESEARCH

RESEARCH PROJECT
TOPIC: “To critically evaluate the incidence of fall as a safeguarding issue. A study on
Hazelwood Care Home.”
INTRODUCTION
Background
The incidence of fall is mainly associated with the falling of the person who has been seeking
care. Falls within the hospital while seeking care is one of the serious issue especially among
the older group people. Hazelwood Care Home tends was established in the year 2000 who
tends to provide quality and professional services to the patients. It is a modern built home
which focuses on providing best services to patients.

Research aim and Objectives
Aim
 “To critically evaluate the incidence of fall as a safeguarding issue. A study on Hazelwood
Care Home.”
Research Objectives
 To develop understanding on the incidence of fall as a safeguarding issue in care home.
 To critically investigate the various risk factors and causes associated with the incidence of
fall in care home.
 To effectively investigate the challenges faced by the health care practitioners to reduce
incidence of fall in care home.
 To determine effective prevention measures and practice in order to reduce incidence of
fall in care home.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
PARTICULARS METHODS
Research methods Qualitative research method
Research philosophy Interpretivism philosophy
Research approach Inductive approach
Research design Descriptive research design
Data collection Primary and secondary source of collecting
data
Sampling Random probabilistic sampling method
where 10 health care practitioners of
Hazelwood Care Home.
Data analysis Thematic analysis
Ethical consideration comply with legal laws, proper citation,
anonymity and confidentiality.
Research limitation Time limitation

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
Theme 1: Yes, care workers at the Hazelwood Care Home are highly professional.
PARTICULARS RESPONDENT
S
% OF
RESPONDENT
S
Yes 6 60.00%
No 3 30.00%
Neutral 1 10.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00% Yes No Neutral
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
60.00%
30.00%
10.00%
% OF RESPONDENTS
Yes No Neutral
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
60.00%
30.00%
10.00%
% OF RESPONDENTS

Theme 2: Yes, most of the participants understand the concept
of incidence of fall as safeguarding issue.
PARTICULAR
S
RESPONDEN
TS
% OF
RESPONDEN
TS
Yes 7 70.00%
No 2 20.00%
Maybe 1 10.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00%
70.00%
20.00%
10.00%
Yes
No
Maybe
70.00%
20.00%
10.00%
Yes
No
Maybe

Theme 3: Inappropriate use of the side rails and wet floors,
equipment clutter and call buttons of the nurses are far are the
key risk factors associated with the incidence of fall.
PARTICULARS RESPONDENTS % OF
RESPONDENTS
Inappropriate use of
the side rails and wet
floors
2 20.00%
Equipment clutter 1 10.00%
Call buttons of the
nurses are far
1 10.00%
All of the above 6 60.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00%
20.00%
10.00%
10.00%
60.00%
Inappropriate use of the side
rails and wet floors
Equipment clutter
Call buttons of the nurses are
far
All of the above
20.00%
10.00%
10.00%
60.00%
Inappropriate use of the side
rails and wet floors
Equipment clutter
Call buttons of the nurses are
far
All of the above

Theme 4: Poor vision and muscle impairment, chronic health
conditions and illness that affect the balance are the major
cause of incidence of fall in care home.
PARTICULARS RESPONDENTS % OF
RESPONDENTS
Chronic health
conditions
1 10.00%
Poor vision and
muscle impairment
1 10.00%
Illness that affect the
balance
1 10.00%
All of the above 7 70.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00%
10.00%
10.00%
10.00%
70.00%
Chronic health conditions
Poor vision and muscle
impairment
Illness that affect the balance
All of the above
10.00%
10.00%
10.00%
70.00%
Chronic health conditions
Poor vision and muscle
impairment
Illness that affect the balance
All of the above

Theme 5: Highly agreed, older people are at the higher risk of
incidence of fall in care home.
PARTICULARS RESPONDENTS % OF
RESPONDENTS
Agreed 3 30.00%
Highly agreed 4 40.00%
Disagreed 1 10.00%
Highly disagreed 0 0.00%
Neutral 2 20.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00%
30.00%
40.00%
10.00%
20.00%
Agreed
Highly agreed
Disagreed
Highly disagreed
Neutral
30.00%
40.00%
10.00%
20.00%
Agreed
Highly agreed
Disagreed
Highly disagreed
Neutral

Theme 6: Yes, specific medications increases the risk of fall.
PARTICULARS RESPONDENT
S
% OF
RESPONDENT
S
Yes 9 90.00%
No 1 10.00%
Maybe 0 0.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00% Yes No Maybe
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
90.00%
10.00%
0.00%
% OF RESPONDENTS
Yes No Maybe
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
90.00%
10.00%
0.00%
% OF RESPONDENTS

Theme 7: Highly agreed, difficulty in controlling the bowels
and bladder increases the risk of fall.
PARTICULARS RESPONDENTS % OF
RESPONDENTS
Agreed 3 30.00%
Highly agreed 5 50.00%
Disagreed 1 10.00%
Highly disagreed 0 0.00%
Neutral 1 10.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00%
30.00%
50.00%
10.00%
10.00%
Agreed
Highly agreed
Disagreed
Highly disagreed
Neutral
30.00%
50.00%
10.00%
10.00%
Agreed
Highly agreed
Disagreed
Highly disagreed
Neutral

Theme 8: Lack of clinical skills, is the key challenge faced by
the health care practitioners to reduce incidence of fall in care
home.
PARTICULARS RESPONDENTS % OF
RESPONDENTS
Lack of clinical skills 5 50.00%
Lack of inter
professional
communication
3 30.00%
Trivialisation of fall 2 20.00%
TOTAL 10 100.00%
50.00%
30.00%
20.00%
Lack of clinical skills
Lack of inter professional
communication
Trivialisation of fall
50.00%
30.00%
20.00%
Lack of clinical skills
Lack of inter professional
communication
Trivialisation of fall