Working with Local Government and their Public Health Plans to prevent falls - Rachel Meade
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Working with Local Government and their Public Health Plans to prevent falls Rachel Meade Co Authors: Roisin Sweeney & Gemma Davis www.injurymatters.org.au
Injury Matters acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters throughout Western Australia and pays respects to the Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise the importance of continued connection to culture, country and community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our Reconciliation Action Plan can be found at www.injurymatters.org.au Artwork: “Standing Strong” by Nerolie Bynder Blurton
Overview 1. Importance of Local Governments 2. Enacting change through Public Health Plans 3. Falls in East Fremantle 4. Interventions Developed and Delivered 5. Results 6. Opportunities
Public Health Plans Public Health Act update 2016 Objectives: 1) Empowering and enabling people to live healthy lives 2) Providing health protection for the community 3) Improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing
Development of interventions to align to strategy East Fremantle Objective one: To guide and encourage our community to lead healthier lifestyles through the Objective three: To engage with business, Public Health provision of lifestyle and educational opportunities. partners and stakeholders to support the Town Plan Objectives as a great place for people to live, work and play. East Fremantle Deliver and support facilities and Encourage active, sociable, Deliver programs for Provide a full package of support, training and Strategies programs that encourage the uptake of meaningful lives to promote seniors and promote engagement mechanisms to foster staff physically active lifestyles. good health and wellbeing senior focussed events development by 2020 and support equality in (e.g. Seniors week, the workplace. seniors’ afternoon tea dance, healthy lifestyles expo for over 55s, heritage festival programs). Proposed • Stepping On Program • Community displays at • Peer education • HACC falls prevention presentation Activities • Promote Local Services town events workshops • Provision of falls prevention resources • Communication materials Anticipated • Increased confidence of participants • Increased awareness of • Increased awareness of • Increased confidence of staff to identify Outcomes to take control, implement positive the risk factors for falls. the risk factors for falls. strategies to reduce falls lifestyle changes to keep participants • Increased awareness that • Increased awareness • Increased awareness of staff of resources and independent, explore coping falls are preventable. that falls are support available to prevent falls. behaviours and make changes to preventable. safety to prevent falls. • Increased knowledge of • Increased promotion of physical strategies for preventing activity services in the Town. falls
Intervention Delivered Awareness Workforce Education Raising Development Promotion of Education Peer Education local services workshop Community Stepping On events and Program displays Distribution of Falls Communication Prevention Materials Resources
Awareness Raising - Results Promotion of Local Services to Prevent Falls • Added 9 services to the eDirectory. • Developed 1 activity flyer. • 2 community displays. Distribution of Resources • Glyde-In Community Learning Centre • Juniper Independent Living Units • East Fremantle Medical Centre • Fremantle Library • Fremantle Leisure Centre
Awareness Raising - Results Outcome 3: Increase awareness of the risk factors for falls. Distribution of Communication Materials • Media Releases • Website Blogs • Newsletters • Social Media
Education - Results Outcome 3: Increased awareness of the risk factors for falls. Outcome 4: Increased awareness that falls are preventable. Outcome 5: Increased knowledge of strategies for preventing falls. Three (3) Peer Education Workshops to a total of 89 community members. 97.7% respondents agreed or strongly agreed they understand the reasons why people fall (n=43). 97.7% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that falls are preventable (n=42). 88.6% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they have a better understanding of what they can do to reduce their risk of falling (n=39).
Education - Results Outcome 1: Increased confidence of participants to take control, implement positive lifestyle changes to keep participants independent, explore coping behaviours and make changes to safety to prevent falls. Participants identified average of 3.2 more risk factors in Week 8 (13) compared to Week 1 (9.8). The average Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) score* increased from 23.72 in Week 1 to 24.00 in Week 8. “[The Program] came at a perfect time for me when I was feeling worried about my abilities as my balance and knee problems worsened.”
Education - Results “I think my balance and strength have Outcome 1: Increased confidence of participants to take control, implement improved. I positive lifestyle changes to keep participants independent, explore coping feel my behaviours and make changes to safety to prevent falls. confidence has improved on wet surfaces.” 91% of participants had an improvement in one or more aspects of their 4 stage balance test. 67% of participants improved their functional mobility based on the TUG test. 73% of participants had an improvement in their functional strength based on the 30 second STS and 5 second STS tests.
91.6% of participants reported an increase in the frequency of at least one fall preventing behaviour. 7.3% increase in positive attitude towards falls prevention. “It's definitely worth promoting to a 60+ group. Prevention is everything. I was very glad to have the opportunity to do the course. Thanks East Fremantle Council. Thanks [Injury Matters staff] for doing an excellent job at running the course.”
Results – Workforce Engagement Outcome 6: Increased confidence of staff to identify strategies to reduce falls. Outcome 7: Increased awareness of staff of resources and support available to prevent falls. 1 x Home and Community Care (HACC)Presentation to upskill professionals who support older adults. 15% improvement in understanding of what staff could do to prevent falls and the resources available to support them.
Opportunities • Increasing opportunity to engage Local Government in falls prevention. • Activities that address social isolation of residents are attractive to Local Government. • Link falls activities in with other existing programs and infrastructure (i.e. recreation centres). • Make yourself known to your LG – do they know that your service exists.
Injury Matters is able to continue to make a difference in the Western Australian community through funding obtained from the state government, donations and income generated through our programs and services.
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