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Falls Prevention and Bone Health Foundation Education Resource for Health and Social Care workers Consultative Draft

The AFFINITY foundation Education resource aims to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to deliver falls prevention management and bone health service to older people. It will be used by Falls Link Workers (or equivalent) responsible for delivering education and learning sessions to health and social care workers involved in the implementation of falls and fracture prevention initiatives. Learning sessions will be appropriate for workers across all disciplines working in hospital, residential, primary care and/or community settings.

The AFFINITY foundation resource was developed in line with the ‘National Strategy for the Prevention of Falls and Fractures in Ireland’s Ageing Population’, best available evidence and practice based, life-long learning. It was developed by the Education and Learning Support Team, an interdisciplinary group of health and social care professionals, who were mandated by the AFFINITY National Implementation Team in 2014 to work collaboratively on its development. The Terms of Reference of the team was to develop and /or standardise an education and learning resource AFFINITY –Falls Prevention and Bone Health Foundation Education Resource for Health and Social Care Workers’, hereafter known as the AFFINITY foundation resource.

AFFINITY (Activating Falls and Fracture Prevention in Ireland Together) is the National Falls Prevention and Bone Health Project to implement the ‘National Strategy for the Prevention of Falls and Fractures in Ireland’s Ageing Population’. The vision of the National Strategy is a “life free from (harmful) falls and fractures in our ageing population”. Its aims are to prevent harmful falls amongst persons aged 65 years and older, enhance the management of falls and improve health and wellbeing through a focus on bone health.

The categories of health and social care workers that this resource will address are:

The AFFINITY foundation resource adopts a taught learning approach, that can be supplemented by such relevant e learning resources as are available on HSELand http://www.hseland.ie/tohm/default.asp, including the UK Fallsafe Programme.

The AFFINITY Foundation Resource addresses the core competencies of caring for the service user adversely affected by falls and fractures. It is aimed at health and social care workers who may:

Currently the resource is designed to be delivered in 15 minute sessions at ward/unit level. Of course, it is also possible to deliver sessions of different durations pending worker roles when caring for service users adversely affected by falls and bone health issues and/or their availability. To plan a learning session in any setting see Chapter 6 Planning a Learning Session

Once a participant has completed the Core Learning Session 1 and Core Learning Session 2 including those particular Settings of relevance to them, they are eligible for a Certificate of Attendance. It is expected that this AFFINITY foundation resource learning sessions will be facilitated by suitably qualified facilitators in one’s area/ network, in collaboration with the Centre of Nurse/Midwifery Education and the local falls prevention and bone health multidisciplinary team.

Evaluation

Feedback relating to this AFFINITY Foundation Education Resources is encouraged to try and ensure it is fit for purpose. Please use the following feedback form to return your response.

Participants who have completed the Core Learning Sessions of relevance to their respective roles are asked to use this participant evaluation form and return to their session facilitator.

Facilitators of core learning sessions are encouraged to use the programme evaluation form to learn lessons for continuous improvement.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact: iobyrnemaguire@ntma.ie or + 353 1 2384184

Core Learning Sessions

Core Learning Session 1: Introduction to falls prevention and management
	Definition of fall
	Risk Factors for falls
	Consequences of falls
	Fear of falling
	Falls screening and assessment
	Falls algorithm
	Getting started and establishing a working group
	Helpful Resources

Core Learning Session 2: Osteoporosis/ Bone Health
	What is Osteoporosis?
	Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
	Prevention of Osteoporosis
	Diagnosing Osteoporosis
	Treatment of Osteoporosis
	Fracture Liaison Service
	Helpful Resources

Primary Care Setting
	Falls Algorithm
	Falls Screening and Assessment
	Helpful Resources

Acute Hospital Setting
	Falls Algorithm
	Falls Screening and Assessment
	Falls Prevention Process in the Acute Hospital Setting
	Post Fall Care
	Alerts
	Discharge Home
	Emergency Department

Residential Setting
	Falls Screening and Risk Assessment
	Falls Prevention Processes
	Forever Autumn Alerts/Programme
	Post Fall Care
	Additional Safety precautions for all patients/ residents
	Helpful Resources

List of Appendices with Sample Tools
	Appendix 1: I had a fall poster
	Appendix 2: Level 1 Screen
	Appendix 3: Level 2: Multi-factorial Falls Risk Assessment
	Appendix 4: Falls Safety Cross
	Appendix 5: Quick Tips for Healthy Bones
	Appendix 6: Tips for Healthy Ageing
	Appendix 7: Get Up and Go Test
	Appendix 8: Multi factorial Assessment and Intervention
	Appendix 9: Sample Policy Acute setting
	Appendix 10: Intentional Rounding Chart
	Appendix 11: Safety Alert Form
	Appendix 12: Pathway for care of older person Post Fall
	Appendix 13: Post Falls assessment management pathway
	Appendix 14: Nursing Assessment prior to ringing the G.P

Bibliography/Resources
	Bibliography
	Useful Website/External Resource

For Learning Session Facilitators

Each Learning Session has a set of all presentation slides prepared by the Education and Learning Support Team to support you in the delivery of this Falls Prevention and Bone Health Foundation Resource. It is important that time is allocated for practical demonstration and participant practice where appropriate

Presentations
	Introduction to falls Prevention and Management
	Osteoporosis / Bone Health
	Primary Care Setting
	Acute Hospital Setting
	Residential Setting
	Delivery Information Setting

AFFINITY, State Claims Agency, Treasury Building, Grand Canal St. Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel +353 1 664 0800 affinityqueries@ntma.ie