Falls and injury from falls are critical issues in healthcare safety. Almost half of all elderly residents in facilities providing long-term care fall every year. Some 40% of admissions to facilities providing long-term care, such as nursing homes, are the direct result of a fall. One in three of those who fall develop serious injuries. Those who fall are at higher risk for future falls and injury.

Fall-related injuries result in a substantial economic burden to society. According to Smartrisk (2004), direct healthcare costs relating to falls among seniors are estimated at $1 billion every year. The prevention of falls becomes even more important as Canada’s senior population increases.

Let’s take action.

Prevent falls with these four main approaches:

• Risk assessment
• Communication and education about falls risk
• Implementation of interventions for those at risk of falling
• Customization of interventions for those at highest risk of a falls-related injury

Download the Getting Started Kit to learn more.

• Enrol in Safer Healthcare Now!
• Update your enrolment to show us what you’re working on.
• Measure your results.
• Join the Communities of Practice