reducing the risk of injurious falls in an ageing population in ireland

Reducing  the  risk  of  injurious  falls  in  an  ageing  popula5on    

Introduc5on  The  Na'onal  Strategy  to  prevent  falls  and  fractures  in  Irelands  Ageing  Popula'on  (2008)  calls  for  a  proac*ve  approach  to  bone  health  and  falls  preven*on.    Costs  for  falls  and  falls  related  injuries,  of  which  hip  fracture  is  one  of  the  most  costly,  are  on  the  increase  and  projected  to  be  in  excess  of  €  2  billion  by  2030.  The  cost  to  quality  of  life  and  life  itself  is  immeasurable.    

Aim  To  provide  a  comprehensive  equitable  bone  health  and  falls  preven*on  service  in    Dublin  North  to  improve  the  bone  health  and  reduce  the  risk  of  falls  and  fractures  in  the  older  adult  popula*on.  

Results  Falls  and  fracture  preven*on  is  very  much  on  the  agenda  for  service  providers  in  Dublin  North.  Increased  awareness  among  primary  secondary  and  ter*ary  care  is  evident.    

Conclusion  Through  the  investment,  development  and  implementa*on  of  these  services  an  increased  awareness  among  the  popula*on  and  healthcare  staff  of  the  importance  of  good  bone  health  is  evident.  With  further  work  on  FLS  the  capacity  to  prevent  future  falls  and  fractures  in  our  ageing  popula*on  is  achievable.  

Daragh  Rodger,  ANP  Care  of  the  Older  Adult  Community,  St  Mary’s  Hospital,  Phoenix  Park,  Dublin  20  Email:    daragh.rodger@hse.ie,  Anne  Spencer,  Educa*onal  Technologist,  PETAL,  aspencer@petal.ie    

1.    Healthy    

Ageing  Clinic    Bone  Health  

6.  Fracture  Liaison  Service  

3.  Forever    Autumn  

2.  Osteoporosis  

Clinic  

5.    Community  

Falls    Pathway  

4.  Community  Falls  Clinic  

1   Audit  of  the  Healthy  Ageing  Clinic  (2006)  highlighted  the  incidence  of  reduced  bone  density  in  adults  promp*ng  the  development  and  implementa*on  of  a  bone  health  educa*on  resource  (2011).  Visit  www.bonehealth.co  

2   Access  to  a  consultant  led  osteoporosis  clinic  (2010)  

3   Audit  of  hospital  and  residen*al  units  demonstrated  the  incidence  of  falls  promp*ng  the  development    and  implementa*on  of  a  falls  preven*on  programme  (2012).  Visit  www.bonehealth.co  

4   Development  of  a  mul*disciplinary  consultant  led  comprehensive  falls  clinic  (2013)  

5   Collabora*on  with  Primary  Care  services  to  develop  a  coordinated  approach  to  bone  health  and  falls  preven*on  (2014)  

6   Recogni*on  of  the  need  for  Fracture  Liaison  Services  (FLS)    

Method  

Enhancing    Quality  

Care  for  an  Ageing    

Popula5on