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The largest study of care homes in the UK, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that a co-ordinated approach to fall prevention in care homes is effective in significantly reducing the number of times residents fall.

The ‘Falls in Care Homes study’ (FinCH), led by Professor Pip Logan and experts from the School of Medicine, Centre for Rehabilitation and Health Care Research, tested a new approach called the ‘Guide to Action to prevent Falls in Care Home’ (GtACH) programme.

The study, was conducted across 84 care homes in 11 different areas of England and included over 1,600 residents over a three-year period.

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The team found that the GtACH programme reduced the rate of falls by over 43 per cent compared with residents who did not receive the intervention.

There was no adverse effect on residents’ mobility or independence and most importantly, the treatment was found to be cost effective and fell well within the cost-thresholds set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for treatments to be funded through the NHS.

Falls are very common in older people living in care homes and are associated with a high risk of injury, admissions to hospital and significant cost to healthcare systems.

Although fall prevention interventions have been shown to be effective in other settings, previous systematic reviews suggested that the benefits were uncertain in care home residents.

Experts at Nottingham developed the GtACH programme in collaboration with care home staff and residents to devise a set of guidelines in the form of a 33 point checklist with a list of 33 associated actions that care home staff can use to reduce the risk of falls among their residents.

The programme includes one hour of training for all care home staff (including gardeners, caretakers, cooks, cleaners, managers) in small groups, delivered by a falls specialist.

A manual summarising the GtACH programme is left in the home after training and includes resources such as a falls incident chart (to detect patterns) and a medication falls risk chart. Once trained, staff are expected to use the GtACH risk assessment and guide to action checklist with all residents.

Professor Pip Logan from the Centre for Rehabilitation and Ageing Research at the University of Nottingham was one of the lead authors of the study. She said: “The falls prevention programme significantly reduces the chance of falling over for people living in care homes and is cost effective.

“This research is the largest care home study completed in the UK and the team included academics, care home residents, families, care home staff, social care and NHS employees, a truly interdisciplinary UK trial.

“By preventing falls, the FinCH programme could improve quality of life and save lives, whilst also saving NHS and social care providers money, that can be reinvested into high quality care for older people.”

Earlier this year, a study found that loss of mobility and falls in elderly people and not being able to get up or get help were key concerns for adults with parents aged 75 or over.

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tunstall-Connected-Care-Homes-Assistive-tech-elderly-woman.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tunstall-Connected-Care-Homes-Assistive-tech-elderly-woman-150x150.jpgLiane McIvorNewsroomNHSReports & ResearchSector Newscare homes,elderly,England,falls,healthcare,prevention,University of NottinghamThe largest study of care homes in the UK, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that a co-ordinated approach to fall prevention in care homes is effective in significantly reducing the number of times residents fall. The ‘Falls in Care Homes study’ (FinCH), led by Professor...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals