Introducing the South East Regional Integrated Fall Prevention and Management Strategy

April 2017

Falling can have a significant impact on older adults, their families, and the health care system.   Falls can result in a major life's change for older adults, including disability, loss of independence, changes in living arrangements, and even death.  It is estimated that one in three older adults are likely to fall at least once per year.¹  It is especially alarming, since in the South -East Local Health Integration Network (SELHIN), more than 20 per cent of the population is over the age of 65.²

Falls are the leading cause of injury and hospitalization among older adults and are often the catalyst for transition to long term care. ^3,4  Moreover, falls are responsible for over 95 per cent of all hip fractures in Ontario.³

The South-East Regional Integrated Fall Prevention & Management Strategy ("Strategy") was developed to address the needs of older adults who are at various levels of risk for falling, and the capacity of health care providers to respond to individuals' and the community's needs through an integrated system approach.  The Strategy's steering group currently comprises members from three local public health agencies, the Centre for Studies in Aging and Health at Providence Care, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, and the South-East LHIN, as well as representation from acute care, long-term care, primary care, and agencies that provide community support and services.  The goal of the strategy is to reduce the incidence, severity, and impact of falls among adults aged 65 and older.  Five core pillars provide direction to the work that will occur over the next three to five years in the region:

Goal: To reduce the incidence, impact, and severity of falls and fall-related injury among older adults in South East Ontario.

• Pillar: Public Awareness and Education
  • Aim: Older adults and their caregivers understand the impact and risk of falls and are aware of how to reduce and manage their risk.
• Pillar: Provider Skill Development and Education
  • Aim: Providers are informed on and apply falls prevention and management strategies.
• Pillar: Service Navigation and System Integration
  • Aim: Seamless navigation and coordination of falls prevention and management services across the continuum of risk and sectors.
• Pillar: Assessment and Management
  • Aim: Reliable tools and leading practices are adopted for the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and management of falls-related conditions and risk factors.
• Pillar: Engagement and Advocacy
  • Aim: Build partnerships and advocate for a systemic person-centred approach to falls prevention and management. 

Recent activities of the Strategy include the creation of the Fall Prevention microsite on the South East Health Line website. Residents and health care providers in south-eastern Ontario can visit this website for reliable health information to help them to find the services and supports to prevent and to manage falls in their community. The site also provides help to find sector-specific resources, as well as research, educational and networking opportunities, upcoming events, quality improvement, and other helpful resources. 

If you provide a fall prevention or management related service in the south-east region, please share your information about your services on the website.  Remember to update your program or service information regularly.  Submit information and updates to South East Health Line.

More information on The Strategy can be found on Sage Link's website.  To get involved in the Strategy or to sign up for updates on Strategy activities, please contact Rhonda Lovell, RN, Public Health Nurse, KFL&A Public Health and The Strategy steering group co-chair by e-mail fallprevention@lhins.on.ca.

References

1. World Health Organization. WHO Global Report on Fall prevention in Older Age. 2007.
2. South East Local Health Integration Network, Knowledge Management Unit. South East LHIN Integrated Health Service Plan 2016-2019 Regional Capacity Analysis and [Internet]. Brockville: South East Local Health Integration Network; 2016 [cited Mar 2017]. Availablefrom http://www.southeastlhin.on.ca/~/media/sites/se/UploadedFiles/IHSP/IHSP4%202016-2019/ReCAP%202016%20-%202019.pdf
3. Canadian Institute for Health Information. Seniors and falls: Fall-related hospitalizations. [Internet]. Ottawa: Canadian Institute of Health Information; 2010 [cited Mar 2017]. Available from https://www.cihi.ca/en/seniors_falls_info_en.pdf
4. Public Health Agency of Canada. Seniors' Falls in Canada: Second report [Internet]. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; 2014 [cited Mar 2017]. Available from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/publications/public/injury-blessure/seniors_falls-chutes_aines/assets/pdf/seniors_falls-chutes_aines-eng.pdf