Background

Falls are the dominant cause of injuries among older persons, accounting for approximately one-third of fatal injuries in persons aged 60 and over. Falls can often lead to long-term physical disability (e.g. loss of mobility), severe dependency and reduction in quality of life. The causes of falls in older persons are multi-factorial, many of which are modifiable and preventable. Slips/trips/falls contributes annually to over one third of National Adverse Event Management System (formerly STARS Web) reported incidents from the publicly-funded health and social care system which could have or did lead to unintended and unnecessary harm. Read more . In addition, some €520 million is the estimated annual spend in dealing directly with the sequelae of falls and fractures in the absence of implementation of the National Strategy. If we fail to take decisive action now, this latter annual figure is expected to quadruple by 2031, given our ageing demographics. Read more .

Falls prevention (A2) is the pilot initiative for a European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP-AHA) which aims to increase the average healthy life years (HLY) in the EU by 2 years by 2020. This approach coincides with the HSE/SCA decision to prioritise implementation of the National Strategy in 2013. The European Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) , of which A2 is a part, involves (older) persons in their own care through shared decision-making and engaging people in community initiatives as co-producers of health and wellbeing. Over 30 commitments, representing over 150 partners and some 15 countries to date, are involved from many different types of organisations and stakeholders. Stakeholders identified in the Irish commitment are also multi-sectoral/disciplinary/agency. COLLAGE (Collaboration on Ageing) is Ireland’s joint candidate Reference Site for the EIP-AHA, led by but not limited to University College Cork and Louth Age Friendly County Initiative. Read more .