between
personal,
staff-related
and
environment-related
interventions. Examples for each of these categories can be: hip
protectors, training of staff or call systems to summon nursing staff
that can be easily reached.
The reports of all six commissions during the past three years show
that fall prevention does not meet the requirements of an effective
prevention process in some of the facilities that were visited. The visits
made during 2015 substantiated this assessment by the NPM.
In one facility in Salzburg and in one in Upper Austria, fall
management was set up for the first time upon recommendation by
the NPM. In other cases, the commissions objected to the fact that the
existing system was not adequately implemented and/or there was
no regular evaluation of measures taken after falls had occurred. If
existing risks are being ignored completely and over a lengthy period
of time, this can have fatal consequences for residents. This was
adequately confirmed by way of visits by commissions.
Deficiencies in new
construction,
remodelled buildings
and older buildings
In a facility in Tyrol, for example, Commission 1 found that based on
the documentation within two weeks, a total of 62 falls had been
recorded. Residents indicated that since then they were extremely
uncertain, they hardly trusted themselves to do anything, even after
less serious injuries. Observing painful falls by others made persons
needing care fearful. Commission 1 recommended directly on site that
a well-founded reassessment of fall prevention for the entire
retirement and nursing home be tackled. In the meantime this has
been done and was supported by staff training.
62 falls in two weeks
Expert assessment of each individual fall and the analysis of falls
throughout the entire facility (recording of frequency, circumstances
and consequences of all falls in the facility) are always required in
order to be able to analyse the effects of measures taken to prevent
falls over the long term. One of these assessments in a facility showed
that falls occur increasingly when there are team meetings, in other
words during a period in which fewer staff are available for the
residents. By making organisational changes, this hazard could be
corrected relatively easily.
Analysis of how falls
occur
In the fall prevention process, documentation is an important factor.
However, it is often viewed as a burden in daily nursing care when
staff resources are scarce. Careful and comprehensive documentation
ensures an adequate sharing of information. This is the basis for the
evaluation of care planning. The documentation and central recording
of fall incidents is necessary in order to identify weak points and to be
able to react to them accordingly.
Central documentation
is absolutely necessary
Only effective fall prevention ensures the right of residents of retirement homes to the best
level of health possible.
Training in fall prevention, dealing with behavioural abnormalities and care concepts for
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