Case Study: Fall Prevention

The end of September marks Falls Prevention Awareness Week and with us still in our Technology in Care quarter we talked to Registered Manager Ruth Holden at Elmhurst Short Stay, to discuss what technology they use as a way to prevent falls.

Technology is constantly evolving and creating new devices that can be used to improve care; falls pendants are one such device.

“A falls pendant is quite a new thing at Elmhurst” says Ruth, “we needed it due to a number of people we identified at the point of admission, who were at a higher risk of falls.”

Ruth goes on to say that a falls pendant is worn around people's necks and contains a drop sensor. The nifty thing about it is that when someone falls, the pendant automatically activates the alarm that is sent on the loop to all the staff on shift around Elmhurst through the Tunstall intercom system. A staff member then answers the call and can instantly talk to the person whose alarm has gone off, to see what is wrong. If they have just bent over to pick something up, the alarm can be deactivated. If something more serious has occurred, staff can react quickly to help.

“We have had success with it. We have a lady staying at the moment who is at a higher risk of falls. She wears it all the time now. Touch wood, so far she’s not had any falls. But it’s there for her if she does.”

Elmhurst also use a bed sensor and floor pressure mat that can alert staff to when peole move around in their bedroom, which also helps to reduce falls. For example, one lady receiving near end of life care can get agitated early in the morning. As soon as she releases some pressure on the bed sensor mat, an alarm goes to the staff and they can go to help her, even before the lady activates the pressure mat on the floor beside her bed.

It’s all about reducing both risk and any undue stress for people we support, their relatives and staff. For example, Ruth speaks about the benefits of the system during the busy morning routine, when staff are supporting several people to get ready for their day. Staff can talk to anyone who has activated their alarm to assess their needs and also to let them know when they will be supported, without having to leave the person they are supporting for at that moment.

As Ruth says it's a “brilliant bit of kit”.

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To read more about Elmhurst please click here.