Falls are common in inpatient and community settings. They can be life-changing for patients and cost the NHS an estimated £630 million annually (RCP, 2017).
This study day examines the factors that increase the risk of falls and what the community nurse can do to reduce risks and improve quality of life. It also covers care and treatment following a fall and management of risk.
The day aims to improve your understanding of risk factors and evidence based interventions.
CONTENT
Causes and consequences of falls:
What is a fall?
How ageing and illness affect the risk of falls
Identifying risk factors:
Falls are multifactorial. How factors relating to the individual, the environment and treatment and care affect the risk of falls
Assessment and interventions:
Assessing and addressing risk factors
The role of medication in fall:
How medication can increase the risk of falls and how to reduce risks
Care and treatment following a fall:
Assessment
Reducing the risk of further falls
Risk management:
Modifiable and non modifiable risk factors
Reducing risk of injury
Ethical and legal issues
AIMS AND OUTCOMES
The day aims to improve your understanding of risk factors and evidence based interventions and adheres to the latest NICE standards released in April 2025. Candidates attending will learn:
Who is at risk of falls and what can we achieve by assessment and interventions
General assessment of risk factors such as continence, vision, mobility, functional ability, acute confusional states and environmental factors
Patient centred care and treatment
The role of medication in falls and exploration of STOPP/START and Beers criteria
