Falls Links
March 2022 | Issue 1
Welcome to our newsletter
NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network 2022 Annual Falls Forum
Friday May 27th, 2022, Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney
The NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network falls forum provides an opportunity to learn about the latest on fall prevention. Listen to experts in their field provide an overview of recent fall prevention research, quality improvement in residential aged care and fall prevention in hospitals and emergency care.
Returning to a live in-person COVID safe format there will also be plenty of networking opportunities and a consumer display.
Plenary Speakers Include:
- Pam Albany Guest Lecture: Professor Susan Kurrle, Director, Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
- Professor Cathie Sherrington, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and School of Public Health, University of Sydney/ Sydney Local Health District
- Dr Karla Seaman, Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University
- Dr Nasir Wabe, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University
- A/Prof Anna Barker, Executive Director, Research & Innovation, Silver Chain Group Limited
There will also be afternoon concurrent sessions on Community Living and Residential Aged Care Facilities as well as Hospital Care highlighting best practice fall prevention programs and research across the sectors.
Applications for Best Practice Initiative Presentations, New Research Findings Presentations and Rural Travel Grants are still open.
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April Falls Month® is an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of falls and to promote the latest best practice fall prevention strategies. The overall campaign goal is to get active and improve balance for fall prevention.
The last two years have been difficult with many social and fitness groups unable to continue due to COVID. This has contributed to an increase in inactivity and deconditioning in many adults regardless of ability. The Better Balance for Fall Prevention campaign, supported by COTA NSW, aims to help older Australian’s find appropriate exercise programs to meet their needs and interests.
This campaign includes toolkits for Health Professionals and Fitness Trainers to help you promote Better Balance for Fall Prevention to your existing clients and to help you reach older adults who are looking to start an exercise program. These resources compliment a public awareness campaign which is being carried out through media, Health Networks and organisations advocating for older people and we hope for them to be recognised by adults seeking to begin an exercise program.
These resources can be freely downloaded and shared.
Resources Available Now:
Our resources include posters across community, hospital and residential aged care settings, a month long healthy ageing challenge for you and your clients, social media tiles and assessment tools.
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Upcoming Events
Topic – The Stepped-Wedge, Cluster-Randomised Trial:
Enabling Change while Generating Evidence
Prof Terry Haines, CRE Chief Investigator
Head of School, School of Primary and Allied Health Care at Monash University. This follows his previous appointment as Director of Monash Health & Monash University Allied Health Research Unit, Monash Health. He has pursued work in the areas of falls prevention, implementation science and translation of evidence into policy and practice.
https://www.monash.edu/medicine/spahc/about-us/school-staff/thaines
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Hybrid Conference, 27th - 30th November 2022
The Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide
Safety 2022 aims to bring together the global injury prevention community to continue the successful world conferences highlighting the important research, work and advocacy in injury prevention and safety promotion.
Earlybird Registrations are NOW OPEN for the 14th World Conference on Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion.
Earlybird Registration close at 11:59pm AEST, Friday 24 June 2022.
Call for Abstracts
Safety 2022 Conference is inviting abstract submissions for long oral presentations, rapid fire, conversation starter and e-posters. We invite you to submit abstracts related to research, policy or practice
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Research Update
Sunbeam Program Reduces Rate of Falls in Long-Term Care Residents With Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: Subgroup Analysis of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Allison Maka, Kim Delbaere PhD, Kathryn Refshauge PhD, Timothy Henwood PhD,
Stephen Goodall PhD, Lindy Clemson PhD, Jennifer Hewitt PhD, Morag E. Taylor PhD
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2022.01.064
Abstract
Objectives:
The Sunbeam trial significantly reduced falls in long-term aged care (LTC) residents. The
current study’s primary objective was to undertake subgroup analysis of the Sunbeam trial, to determine
whether the intervention was effective for reducing falls in LTC residents with mild-moderate cognitive
impairment/dementia. Secondary objectives were to determine intervention effects on cognitive and
physical function.
Design:
Subgroup analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Setting and Participants: Permanent residents of LTC in Australia who participated in the Sunbeam trial
with Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) scores <83 (Mini-Mental State Examination
>14 ¼ main trial inclusion criteria).
Methods:
Of 221 participants, 148 had an ACE-R <83 and were included in this study. Sixteen LTC residences
(clusters) were randomized to receive either the Sunbeam program or usual care. The Sunbeam
program involved two 1-hour sessions/week of tailored and progressive resistance and balance training
for 25 weeks followed by a maintenance program (two 30-min sessions/week of nonprogressive exercise
for 6 months). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Falls were recorded
using routinely collected data from the LTC incident management systems.
Results:
Rate of falls (50%) and risk of falls (31%), multiple falls (40%), and injurious falls (44%) were
reduced in the intervention group. The intervention group had significantly better balance (static and
dynamic) and sit-to-stand ability when compared with the control group at 6 months and significantly
better dynamic balance at 12 months. There were no serious adverse events.
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ABOUT US
Our vision is to lead the way in fall prevention and other healthy ageing initiatives by harnessing expert knowledge and being collaborative in all we do.
We work closely with researchers, policy makers, health practitioners and community service providers in the development and promotion of healthy ageing services and programs with a focus on preventing falls and fall-related injury.
Our purpose is to support practitioners to improve the lives of older Australians through healthy ageing initiatives with a focus on preventing falls and fall-related injuries.
SHARE YOUR NEWS
Do you have any news on Falls Prevention or healthy ageing that you want to share with others on the network, or report on a project that is happening in your area. We also welcome suggestions for articles and information you would like to see in this newsletter. Send your news and suggestions to: fallsnetwork@neura.edu.au
Contact Us:
Telephone +61 2 9399 1063
Email fallsnetwork@neura.edu.au
Our mailing address is:
NSW Falls Prevention Network
Neuroscience Research Australia
PO Box 1165
Randwick NSW 2031
Copyright © NSW Falls Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network
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