HSE Mid West Community Healthcare recognises the significant impact that falls and harmful falls can have on clients living at home, their family members, residents/patients, staff members and the organisation as a whole. We are committed to reducing the risk of falls across all services.
Our goal is to reduce the risk of harm resulting from falls, while promoting recovery, rehabilitation and independence. To help achieve this goal, two new resources have been developed – one covering Primary Care Services and another to support staff working in Residential settings in Older Persons and Mental Health Services.
HSE Mid West Community Healthcare Primary Care Services have developed a new Multifactorial Falls Screening Tool, which allows for the identification of factors that predispose someone to a fall and is used to direct the individual to the appropriate assessment. Further details, including additional resources, are available at this link.
Separately, a Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Falls has been released to assist staff and management in our Residential/Inpatient settings in both Older Persons and Mental Health Services. This includes a range of supporting materials, all of which are available at this link.