Falls can be prevented through coordinated action across all sectors. It remains imperative that we continue to implement services and programs to reduce the risk and burden of falls and falls related injury across the WA community.
Organisations to reduce the risk of falls
Stay On Your Feet®
Stay on Your Feet® is a program that provides a range of education, tools, resources and subject matter expertise on falls-related topics such as: balance, strength, the vestibular system, home safety, nutrition, alcohol consumption.
Injury Matters (external site) deliver the Stay On Your Feet ® program (external site). Injury Matters provides a range of supports to health professionals (external site) and others working in falls prevention.
The Stay On Your Feet ® site also hosts an eDirectory (external site) with information on falls prevention exercise programs available in the community.
Community physiotherapy services
Community physiotherapy services (CPS) deliver evidence based subacute physiotherapy rehabilitation groups in the community. These can be land, water or gym based and are staffed by senior physiotherapists.
CPS can help manage adults who have experienced a fall or who are at an increased falls risk by providing exercise and education tailored at improving balance, strength, and physical activity levels.
Referrals are currently only accepted from public health service providers.
WA Health staff can find referral information on their health service intranet.
For more information, contact CPS on cps@health.wa.gov.au or 6457 4714 for those based North of the river, or SMHS.CommunityPhysiotherapy@health.wa.gov.au or 9431 2411 for those based South of the river.
Kidsafe WA
KidsafeWA (external site) provides resources to educate parents and children about the prevention of falls in the home and community.
Outpatient falls assessment services
There are a range of WA Department of Health outpatient-based services that provide falls assessment and management. These services are located at metropolitan tertiary and secondary hospitals and rural and regional centres.
They provide a comprehensive suite of evidenced-based individualised falls assessment and management services for people living in the community at risk of falls. The types of services provided at each site may vary.
Further information on the types of services and referral pathways available at individual metropolitan and regional sites can be found at HealthPathways (external site).
Examples of the types of services offered may include:
Falls clinics
Falls clinics are an outpatient based clinic delivered through a day therapy unit providing detailed clinical assessment under the guidance of a geriatrician and/or allied health profession (physiotherapist and / or occupational therapist) to determine risk factors that may contribute to a clients risk of falls. Falls management plans and targeted interventions are developed in consultation with the client based on their identified risk of falls. Interventions may include:
- further medical investigation to determine the cause of falls
- management of identified conditions such as osteoporosis
- advice regarding medication safety and review
- participation in exercise programs to improve balance, gait and muscle strength
- home hazard reduction and home modifications such as the installation of grab rails
- prescription of equipment such as walking aids and essential equipment to facilitate safe performance of daily activities and mobility at home
- podiatry review for foot care or advice related to biomechanical deficits and footwear
- education related to the development of a ‘Personalised Falls Action Plan’ in the event of a future fall at home
- behavioural modification and education about actions that may be contributing to the risk of falling
- referral for assessment of community support services via the MyAgedCare system. This may include referral to a social worker as needed.
- advise to visit an optometrist, podiatrist, GP or other health care provider to follow-up on recommendations made during assessment.
Falls specialist assessment service
This service is provided within the clinic or clients home by a physiotherapist or occupational therapist. Clients undergo an individualised assessment of their falls risk. Falls management plans and targeted interventions (See interventions listed above under falls clinic) are developed in consultation with the client based on their identified risk of falls.
Outpatient / day therapy allied health clinics (physiotherapy and occupational oherapy)
Clients may be seen within the outpatient / day therapy clinic or at home. Following comprehensive assessment, clients may be offered a range of services that are relevant to managing their risk of falls including developing a “personalised falls action plan”, exercise programs (group or individual), falls risk education programs (group or individual), essential equipment prescription and on referral to other services e.g. podiatry as needed.
Falls related information must also be included at discharge for patients, their families and healthcare professionals to support returning home and into the community.
My Aged Care
This is the starting point to access Australian Government Aged Care services and information. This includes help at home, short term care and aged care homes.
There are 2 types of assessments which clients may be eligible for: the Regional Assessment Team for basic services or the Aged Care Assessment Team for clients with complex needs.
Referrals can be made by the client, family and health professionals.
Further information regarding services can be found at myagedcare.gov.au
Last reviewed: 01-05-2024