Falls are the most frequent cause of injury-related hospitalization for Canadian seniors and account for 78% of injury-related deaths. This is a growing problem – the number of falls and fall-related injuries will increases the proportion of those aged 80 years and over in Canada is expected to double over the next 20 years.
Approximately 30 to 50% of all long-term care residents fall each year, and of these, 40% fall twice or more. Approximately 10% of these falls result in serious injury, including up to 5% which result in bone fractures. The risk of sustaining a hip fractures is 10.5 times higher for women who are in facilities than if they were living in the community, and less than 15% of facility residents who sustain a hip fracture regain pre-injury ambulation status.
Centre of Excellence on Mobility, Fall Prevention and Injury in Aging (CEMFIA)
The Centre of Excellence on Mobility, Fall Prevention and Injury in Aging (CEMFIA) represents a unique collaborative of researchers, health care providers and policy makers with a shared goal of improving the health and safety of older British Columbians. The Centre was established in April 2009 within the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM) situated at the Vancouver General Hospital campus. The CEMFIA mandate is to enhance mobility and reduce the risk for falls and fall-related injuries among older British Columbians, in partnership with the BC Fall and Injury Prevention Coalition, the CHHM, the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, University partners, and other fall prevention stakeholders in British Columbia.
For more information, please visit the CEMFIA website and CEMFIA overview.
Announcing the release of the Promoting Active Living (PAL):
Best Practice Guidelines for Fall Prevention in Assisted Living©
Falls and related injuries are a growing problem among our rapidly aging population. With the advent of housing options such as Assisted Living Residences (ALRs), older persons are choosing to remain living in the community with chronic health and mobility problems that put them at greater risk for falling.
The Promoting Active Living (PAL) Best Practice Guidelines for Fall Prevention in Assisted Living are an evidence-based, practical tool designed to ensure our older populations continue to have the best possible quality of life, free of falls. They are designed to assist staff and residents of Assisted Living to identify and reduce falls and related risk factors.
The guidelines provide steps to assess, implement, and evaluate fall prevention strategies in Assisted Living; and feature some of the following tools:
- Fall Report Form
- Checklist and Action Plan
- Resident & Staff survey tool
- Steps to conduct group fall prevention education sessions
- DVD titled: “Insight into Hip Fractures”
These guidelines have been developed in British Columbia by a team led by Dr. Vicky Scott, Senior Advisor on Falls and Injury Prevention at the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, and the Chronic Disease/Injury Prevention and Built Environment Branch of the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sports.
All Assisted Living sites registered with the British Columbia Office for Assisted Living Registrar will receive a complimentary copy of these Guidelines. Organizations outside of British Columbia can order a copy of these guidelines online.
To order a copy, go to:
http://www.publications.gov.bc.ca/search.aspx
and search for “Promoting Active Living” or product code: 7610003388
Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum© Project
Contact: Sarah Elliott, sarah.elliott@gov.bc.ca
Interested in taking a course Interested in contacting a provincial lead
Registration is now full for the February 5 - March 5 CFPC E-Learning course offering. The next course will be scheduled soon. If you are interested in taking the CFPC E-Learning course, we suggest you contact the Division of Continuing Studies at UVic (250-472-4747) to add your name to the registration waiting list - all names on the list will be contacted about a future course offering.
For more information, please go to: http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/ and click the link Health, Wellness, Safety
Then click on the course title "Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum"
Alternatively registrants can contact:
The University of Victoria
Division of Continuing Studies
Registration Office
Tel: 250-472-4747
CFPC Spring 2010 Flyer
The CFPC basic and facilitator courses are available in English and French as two-day workshops offered in most provinces in Canada. The national distribution of the CFPC is coordinated through the BCIRPU, in partnership with provincial leads in each province and territory, and delivered by trained facilitators across the country on a cost-recovery basis. An e-learning version in English will be next offered through the University of Victoria Continuing Education Department in the Fall of 2009, with the French e-learning version to be released in October 2009. For more information on the CFPC basic, facilitator or e-learning courses, contact Sarah Elliott at sarah.elliott@gov.bc.ca. If you are interested in taking a course, please contact the respective provincial lead.
For seniors, the risk of falling and sustaining an injury is influenced by a broad set of health determinants, including physical, behavioural, environmental, social and economic factors. These wide-ranging contributors to falls can only be ameliorated by the coordinated and sustained approach of a multisectoral team of health professionals and community leaders who are well informed in evidence-based practices for prevention.
The Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum© (CFPC) is designed to build on existing knowledge and skills of health professionals and community leaders working in the area of falls prevention among older adults (those 65 and over). The CFPC was developed under the leadership of Dr. Vicky Scott, Senior Advisor on Fall and Injury Prevention for the British Columbia Health Authorities, in collaboration with fall and injury prevention experts, researchers, and health educators with the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU), the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research (ACICR), the PEI Centre for the Study of Health and Aging and the PEI Seniors Falls Prevention Coalition, and with members of a national advisory committee of stakeholders (government and non-government). Funding for this project was provided by the Population Health Fund of the Public Health Agency of Canada, with contributions and support from the B.C. Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport.
The goal of the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum is to give participants the knowledge and skills needed to operate from a evidence-based approach to seniors falls and fall-related injury prevention, including a) an approach to selection of interventions consistent with proven prevention strategies; b) an understanding of how to integrate falls prevention programming into existing seniors’ health services policies and protocols; and c) knowledge of appropriate evaluation and dissemination techniques. The course also gives participants insight into how to involve seniors as partners in the development of effective strategies and interventions. Participants will learn about current effective programs, and the reliability and validity of existing resources and tools for screening and assessing fall risk. To ensure the potential for synergy in falls prevention along the continuum of services for seniors, the course covers a number of settings – community organizations, home support, health service delivery, long-term care, acute care, rehabilitation and emergency services.
Cours sur la prévention des chutes
Pour en connaître plus : Sarah Elliott, sarah.elliott@gov.bc.ca
Ce cours a pour but de donner à tous les intervenants auprès de personnes âgées les connaissances et les habiletés nécessaires à la mise en application d’une approche qui, fondée sur l’expérience clinique, vise à prévenir les chutes ainsi que les blessures qui en résultent. Les participants apprendront à concevoir, à réaliser et à évaluer des programmes de prévention de chutes adaptés aux groupes d’aînés qu’ils desservent. Les participants apprendront aussi à impliquer les aînés dans le développement de stratégies d’interventions efficaces, à mettre sur pied des programmes appropriés et à apprécier la validité et la fiabilité des ressources et outils servant à dépister et à évaluer les risques de chute.
Le cours en-ligne comprend des présentations multimédias, des activités interactives et un lieu virtuel permettant des échanges au moyen de blogues ou de groupes de discussion. Un facilitateur ou une facilitatrice présidera les groupes de discussion et offrira des rétroactions sur les multiples exercices d’application. Le cours fournit aussi un manuel complet de ressources qui aideront à monter un programme de prévention de chutes destiné aux différents communautés et services de santé.
Frais :
Au Canada : 165$
International : 205 $ Can
Par courriel : cerf@ualberta.ca
Par téléphone : 780-465-8600
Par télécopie : 780-465-8606
En personne :
CERF
Campus Saint-Jean
8406, rue Maire-Anne-Gaboury
Edmonton AB T6C 4G9 Canada
www.csj.ualberta.ca/cerf
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Strategies and Actions for Independent Living (SAIL)
Contact: Hansdeep Bawa: hbawa@cw.bc.ca
The goals of the SAIL program are to promote the independence and quality of life for home support service clients by reducing their risk of falling and sustaining an injury and to integrate a comprehensive approach to falls prevention into regular practice.
The SAIL program consists of multi-factorial interventions that are targeted towards seniors who are in need of on-going home support but are not yet in need of institutionalized care.
The core elements of the SAIL program are: a falls prevention training program for community health workers (CHW) and home health professionals (HHP), a falls monitoring and reporting system, the implementation of a client-centered risk assessment and prevention tool, and protocols for identifying and addressing those determined to be at high risk for falls.
This project is coordinated through the BCIRPU. Currently, the SAIL project is in its 3rd phase where the learning from the pilot study (Phase I) and controlled trial (Phase II) is being translated into practical application through demonstration projects in each of the 5 Health Authorities in B.C. Evaluation and collaboration of training and protocols will occur before the package subsequently rolls out across B.C.
Promoting Active Living (PAL)
Contact: Hansdeep Bawa: hbawa@cw.bc.ca
PAL is a falls prevention project that was initiated by the BC Falls and Injury Prevention Coalition (BCFIPC) to develop site-specific falls prevention guidelines for Assisted Living (AL) facilities. This project builds on current BCFIPC falls prevention initiatives and will address an existing gap, as there are currently no such programs available in B.C. or across Canada for this population.
Assisted Living Facilities are seen as a priority setting for falls prevention by Health Authorities and AL service providers due to the rapid growth among older persons in B.C. and Canada that are at high risk of falling and are choosing to remain living in the community through the support offered in AL facilities.
The purpose of this project is to identify risk profiles and feasible strategies for the prevention of falls and related injuries among residents of Assisted Living Facilities. The goal of the project is to produce a report on the Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls among Residents of Assisted Living Facilities in British Columbia that will address personal fall risk, fall risk in resident units, fall risk in AL buildings and grounds, and fall risk related to public environments and services used by AL residents.
The final product will be a falls prevention guideline tailored to the fall risk profiles of older persons living in Assisted Living Facilities in British Columbia based on a fall risk and needs assessment pilot study conducted over six months among residents and staff of two AL facilities in the Fraser Health Authority. The target audience of these guidelines will be those who administer, operate, work, reside and provide services or support to those who live in Assisted Living Facilities in British Columbia and other regions across Canada. This product will be designed to be suitable for use across all AL facilities in B.C. and amenable to adaptation for use in settings across Canada.
This project is jointly funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the BC Ministry of Health, and the Fraser Health Authority.
Seniors Falls Can Be Prevented - A Falls Pamphlet for Seniors
This 4-page pamphlet has been prepared by the B.C. Falls and Injury Prevention Coalition and it is designed specifically as a resource for seniors who are at risk for falling.
The file is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format and can be printed on any black and white or colour printer, double sided or single sided. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you can download it here.
“Seniors Falls Can Be Prevented“ discusses: falls facts, risks that contribute to seniors' falls, and what the senior can do to lower their risk of falling in each room of the home and also away from home.
Some quick fall facts:
- 40% of those 75+ fall at least once each year
- Most common cause of injury and the sixth leading cause of death for seniors
- $3 billion spent each year on Canadian seniors' falls injuries
- 3 times more women are hospitalized for a fall injury than men
- 40% hospitalized falls involve hip fractures and half of those with hip fractures NEVER regain pre-fall functioning
- Half of long-term care admissions are fall-related
- Most falls occur at home, while doing daily activities
- Falls usually happen due to combined effects of multiple factors
- Fear of falling leads many to limit normal activities
British Columbia Falls & Injury Prevention Coalition
The BC Falls and Injury Prevention Coalition (BCFIPC) is a multi-sectoral collaboration of representatives from regional/provincial organizations, academic institutions, professional associations and community agencies who are concerned with the need to reduce the rate, frequency and severity of falls among older persons in British Columbia. The coalition is comprised of regional health representatives, policy makers, researchers, physicians, managers of provincial and regional falls and injury prevention initiatives, falls prevention project coordinators, geriatric care coordinators, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nursing consultants and other organizations representing older persons in B.C.
Through networking, education, research and the implementation of evidence-based practices, BCIFPC members seek to enhance policy and programming at local, regional and provincial levels to reduce fall and injury risk among older persons. Working as a cohesive network, BCIFPC has the opportunity to maximize the potential of existing programs, collaboratively develop new programs, and effectively allocate resources through reduced duplication of efforts and exchange resources and information.
For further information, contact the coalition secretariat at Sarah.Elliott@gov.bc.ca
OSTEOFIT
Osteofit is an exercise intervention program developed in consultation with clinical specialists from BC Women's Osteoporosis Program. Osteofit is designed to improve strength, balance and coordination as well as functional ability, independence, and quality of life, and is especially safe for those with osteoporosis and osteopenia. It is medically endorsed and based on published research. Osteofit addresses the need for an accessible community program providing the link between physiotherapy and group fitness classes for those who are at risk for falls and fractures. Participants do not need a referral and are encouraged to contact community centres directly. |
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Environmental Scan of Falls Prevention Initiatives for Seniors and Veterans in British Columbia
Contact: Vicky Scott, vicky.scott@gov.bc.ca
The purpose of this project is to collect and analyze data related to existing initiatives designed to promote the reduction of falls and fall-related injuries among seniors and veterans in British Columbia. This work will help to reduce duplication, promote networking, and contribute to a collective effort currently underway in the province to reduce falls and injuries among older persons. This project will also serve to reflect the changes that have taken place since the previous scan completed in March 2001 (Gallagher & Scott). In addition, the proposed scan will be designed to help understand the critical elements in B.C. that have helped to move this important issue forward and what might help to sustain it in the future.
The project is conducted in collaboration with Health Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, and the BC Ministry of Health Planning |
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Health Canada/Veterans Affairs Canada Falls Prevention Initiatives in British Columbia
Contact: Vicky Scott, vicky.scott@gov.bc.ca
A project to enhance understanding and knowledge of effective falls prevention interventions and models directed to veterans, seniors and their caregivers using a population health approach. To develop the capacity of veterans, seniors and other community organizations to develop and deliver sustainable community-based health promotion programs addressing falls prevention using the population health approach. Click here for more info.
"Stepping Out Together" North Okanagan Falls Prevention Network: Overcoming the Barriers to Change
Contact: Vicky Scott, vicky.scott@gov.bc.ca
The goal of this initiative is to reduce falls and falls risks amongst seniors by working with seniors to overcome the barriers to change, with a focus on informing and supporting seniors to make changes, which impact on their risk of falling.
The project is conducted in collaboration with the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan and the North Okanagan Health Region. http://www.socialplanning.ca/seniors/falls/index.html
All Age Fall Prevention Activities |
Fall Prevention Module for Home Health Care Support Workers
Contact: Vicky Scott, Vicky.Scott@gov.bc.ca
This project aims to reduce the number of falls and related injuries for frail seniors living in the community through the training of home health care support workers in the best practices for falls prevention. This project is in the development phase. Project objectives include:
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Establishment of priorities and practices for the training of health care support workers who provide at-home services to frail seniors through consultation with a steering committee of key stakeholders.
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Design and testing of a best practices training module for falls prevention based on a synthesis of current literature.
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Pilot testing of the module in a training workshop.
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Implementation and monitoring of the effectiveness of the module in reducing risk factors and falls.
Systematic Review and Best Practice Guide For Fall Prevention Programs and Practices for Seniors Contact: Vicky Scott, Vicky.Scott@gov.bc.ca
This project compiled an inventory of community-based falls prevention programs for seniors as well as a literature review of falls prevention programs and strategies for community-dwelling seniors. The project is coordinated between Gerotech Research Associates, Adult Injury Management Network, University of Victoria Centre on Aging and BCIRPU. To see the Best Practice Guide, click here. To see the Inventory, click here.
The project was conducted in collaboration with Gerotech Research Associates, Adult Injury Management Network, and the University of Victoria Centre on Aging
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Emergency Department Surveillance Initiatives (EDISS)
Contact: Dorry Smith, dbsmith@cw.bc.ca
This project implemented an injury surveillance system, including data collection, analysis and interpretation, in ten Emergency Departments across BC. This system provided local injury information that could be used to plan and evaluate community injury prevention programs. The system was implemented in ten hospitals in the Fraser, Northern and Interior Health Authorities. This project was funded through Health Canada as the Injury Surveillance Pilot Project (ISPP).
EDISS Updates, Newsletters and Reports
This project was funded by Health Canada
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Projects
The following BCIRPU projects relate directly to Falls Prevention.
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Population Health Funded Fall Prevention Activities
Overcoming Assistive Device Stigma: A Campaign To Improve the Daily Lives of Non-Metropolitan Canadian Seniors-BCIT
Contact: Vicky Scott , vicky.scott@gov.bc.ca
This project will address a critical question: Assuming a Canadian senior is an appropriate candidate for assistive device (AD) use, how can he or she be encouraged to adopt such devices, e.g., canes, walkers, scooters, and grab bars? Click here for More information.
Stable, Able and Strong-Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
Contact: Vicky Scott , vicky.scott@gov.bc.ca
This project was conducted to develop supports for community dwelling seniors who have experienced a fall to enable them to maintain or resume engagement in meaningful activities in the context of their home and community. Stable, Able and Strong will address fear of falling, and personal, environmental, and activity-related risk factors for subsequent falls, and strategies to safely resume daily occupations. A community development model using senior volunteers will be used in the project to enable seniors to create post-fall support services. Click here for More information.
A Community Based Approach to Reducing the Barriers to the Acceptance of New Assistive Technologies By Older Adults-Neil Squire Society
Contact: Vicky Scott , vicky.scott@gov.bc.ca
The project objective is to increase awareness of the health benefits of assistive technologies, as well as address barriers that affect their use by piloting a community-based, education and support program for seniors. Project activities include the creation of a national advisory committee and focus groups, developing a curriculum and training materials, designing surveys for evaluation, recruiting and training of volunteers, and pilot testing a 10-month project and a toolkit. The project will link a network of community organizations developed under Industry Canada's Community Access Program sites with regional seniors' organizations to deliver a course on new technologies and provide peer-to-peer support. Click here for More information.
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Surveys |
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There are no falls prevention surveys to report at this time. |
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The following BCIRPU publications are directly related to Falls injury prevention:
Multifactorial and Functional Mobility Assessment Tools for Fall Risk among Older Adults in the Community, Home-support, Long-term and Acute Care Settings
February, 2007
This is a systematic review of published studies that test the validity and reliability of fall-risk assessment tools for use among older adults in community, home-support, long-term and acute care settings. Searches were conducted in Ebscohost and MEDLINE for published studies in the English language between January 1980 and July 2004, where the primary or secondary purpose was to test the predictive value of one or more fall assessment tools on a population primarily 65 years and older. The tool must have had as its primary outcome falls, fall-related injury or gait/balance. Only studies that used prospective validation were considered. Thirty-four articles testing 38 different tools met the inclusion criteria. The community setting represents the largest number of studies (14) and tools (23) tested, followed by acute (12 studies and 8 tools), long-term care (LTC) (6 studies and 10 tools) and home-support (4 studies and 4 tools). Eleven of the 38 tools are multifactorial assessment tools (MAT) that cover a wide range of fall-risk factors, and 27 are functional mobility assessment tools (FMA) that involve measures of physical activity related to gait, strength or balance.
Clinical Guidelines for Seniors' Falls Prevention
November, 2006
Clinical guidelines for seniors' falls prevention recommends evidence-based courses of action at identified decision points in the care of seniors prone to falling. This document describes the procedures used for an international search for guidelines and then offers a summary of ten guidelines that most effectively meet the search criteria and guideline definitions.
The Evolution of Seniors' Falls Prevention in British Columbia
March, 2006
Over the past 20 years there has been sustained collaboration within British Columbia to address falls and fall-related injuries among seniors. These sustained efforts and drive of specific champions within our government, health system, academia and our local communities, have led us to where we are today - a province with significantly reducing rates for falls. This reduction is due to the work of recognized leaders in the field of falls prevention and a strategic infrastructure that demonstrates collaboration across all sectors at all levels. The report presents the scope of the challenge - recent B.C. epidemiological data to illustrate the changes over time for mortality and hospitalizations as a result of seniors falling. It also showcases the historical milestones for policy, research and practice that have contributed to B.C. moving to achieve a shared vision of reducing the burden and impact of falls and fall-related injury among seniors, and concludes with the present and future of falls prevention in B.C.
Public Health Agency Report on Senior's Falls in Canada
PHAC, 2005
This report provides comprehensive analysis of national falls data and information to support continued research and action to prevent falls and injuries among seniors in Canada. As surveillance, research and program initiatives expand, our collective understanding of risk factors and the prevention of falls will increase. This improved understanding holds promise for the development of effective new interventions and policies to reduce the human suffering and financial costs of falls and fall-related injuries among Canadian seniors.
Stepping In: Long-Term Care Collaborative Falls Prevention Project
May, 2005
A report on reducing falls and fall-related injuries among residents of Canadian Long Term Care Facilities through positive collaborative action by those who are at risk and those who are responsible for their care and safety. For accurate printing of tables, please download this printable word file.
Prevention of Falls and Injuries among the Elderly
March, 2004
A special report from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer discusses the magnitude of the issue of falls among the elderly, the burden of falls on the individual and health care system based on hospital and emergency room data, a list of risk factors and recommendations for preventing falls.
Hip Protectors and Community-Living Seniors: A Review of the Literature
October, 2003
A review of literature regarding the efficacy of hip protectors for community-living older adults. Contains a summary of research methods, an overview of hip fractures and their relationship with falls, and some indicators for those at high risk. Also explored are the benefits of hip protectors for community-living older adults and issues related to compliance. The review concludes with recommendations for the prescription and promotion of hip protector use and some suggestions for future research.
Best Practices in Falls Prevention for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities, Review of the Literature.
September, 2003
This is a review of the literature on falls prevention strategies for long-term care settings.
Unintentional Fall-Related Injuries and Deaths Among Seniors in British Columbia: Trends, Patterns and Future Projections, 1987-2012
Chapters 1-3
Chapters 4-5
Appendices
September, 2002
A report developing a profile of unintentional fatal and non-fatal falls among older adults and seniors in BC, based on mortality and hospitalization data. This study assesses the burden of injuries and deaths due to falls, and examines some of the available evidence related to risk factors and risk conditions surrounding falls among the elderly. Comparisons are also drawn between deaths and hospitalizations due to falls and other selected external causes of injury, and future projections are conducted based on current trends in hospitalizations. |
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Tool Repository Excerpt (Falls Related Tools) |
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The tool repository is a collaborative project between BCIRPU, the Nova Scotia Child Safety and Injury Prevention Program, and the Canadian Collaborating Centres for Injury Prevention and Control funded by Health Canada. It is aimed at injury prevention researchers, program evaluators, and community organizations throughout Canada and the World and provides concise descriptions of measurement tools relevant to injury prevention as well as information on how to obtain the tool. These can include surveys, questionnaires, checklists, assessment tools, and other types of measurement tools on a variety of topics including falls, bicycle safety, work safety, etc. Tools included in the repository are from journal articles as well as some unpublished sources. All tools relate to the pre-injury event, including safety or preventative measures, the injury event, or the injury itself. The repository is not comprehensive and will continue to be updated with additional tools. We would greatly appreciate your participation in this project.
Please contact us about additional tools you think are relevant to the repository.
We can be reached at bcinjury1@cw.bc.ca or 604-875-3776.
Please note: appearance of a tool in the repository does not imply its validity and reliability. It is up to the user of this repository to assess the value of a tool for their project.
See Also:
The List of Tools in the Repository sorted by Keywords
Download the Entire Tool Repository in a Zipped File
 Tools Related to Fall Prevention and Seniors: An Excerpt from the BCIRPU Tool Repository
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Quick Tips on Falls Prevention
Preventing Children's Fall Injuries in the Home
Arrange cribs and beds away from windows. Make sure that windows have secure screens and locks.
Avoid use of a baby walker.
Make sure that safety gates are properly installed to keep babies and toddlers from falling down stairs. Use gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
Do not use a pressure gate at the top of stairs. Instead, use a gate that needs to be anchored to the wall or banister.
Keep stairs and landings at the top of stairs clear of toys or anything else that is easily tripped over.
Use the safety strap in the high chair to keep a child from falling out. Prevent the child from standing up in a high chair or climbing up the sides of the chair.
Put up the sides of the crib and playpen to prevent the child from climbing over the side.
Avoid placing a baby's car seat or baby seat on a table or counter. It could be knocked to the ground.
Wipe up spills quickly to prevent falls in the kitchen and bathroom.
Use a rubber bath or non-slip stickers to make the bathtub less slippery.
Tap loose rugs to the floor to keep from tripping.
Tape foam over sharp corners on your tables so that your child's head will not be hurt if he or she bumps into them. |