Resources

This section contains resources for older people and professionals who work with older people, including hospitals and residential aged care providers.

• Resources for older people
• Professional resources
• Resources for hospitals and residential aged care facilities

Resources for older people

These resources aim to assist older adults identify how they can stay active and independent for longer.

• Will you stay active and independent? Checklist
  This short checklist helps older people identify reasons why they may fall. Any concerns can then be discussed with a health professional.
  
  
• The Queensland Stay On Your Feet^® Checklist (PDF, 2.0 MB)
  This more comprehensive checklist covers wellbeing, nutrition, physical activity, health conditions, footwear and hazards in and around the home. Older people can then discuss any concerns with their health professional.
  
  This document has been made available in smaller downloadable sections. Each section addresses a main reason for falling and it provides information and suggestions to help manage your health and lifestyle, as well as make your home safe.
  The sections are as follows:
    - Cover page, Introduction, How to use this checklsit, Contents
    - Stay active and stay independent
    - Health conditions
    - Medicines
    - Foot care
    - Footwear
    - Vision
    - Strong bones, muscles and healthy eating
    - Continence
    - Safety in and around the home
    - Personal alarms and walking aids
    - What to do if you fall at home
    - Useful contacts
    - Acknowledgements
  
  
• To order your Queensland Stay On Your Feet^® Checklists
  The above checklists are available in hard print and can be ordered from:  
  Queensland Health Publications Unit,
  Queensland Health Building,
  Charlotte Street, Brisbane QLD 4001.
  Telephone: +61 7 3234 1053
  Facsimile: +61 7 3234 0659

• Mackay Active Living Directory
  A guide to physical activities for older adults in the Mackay Regional Council area, which provides helpful information about simple ways to maintain good health and Stay On Your Feet.

• One Step Ahead  
  This booklet (produced by Queensland Health and Department of Housing) advises older people how to prevent falls. It has large print, is well illustrated and provides contacts for more information.
  
  
• Safety postcards
  These postcards (produced by Queensland Health) aim to reduce home and garden-related injuries for older people.
  - Safer Homes For Older People
  - Safer Backyards
  
  
• Getting out and about locally - GOAL - Active ageing directory 2008
  This directory provides physical activity information in Logan-Beaudesert that helps you stay on your feet.

• Healthy Steps-Healthy ageing directory 2008/09
  This directory  provides information about services and activities in the Brisbane South area that  encourages healthy lifestyles and helps you stay on your feet. It provides contacts for more information and links to websites where available. We value your opinion and want your views on the Healthy Steps resource.  Help us by returning the online feedback form.
  
  
• Active Living for Older Adults Townsville
  Active Living for Older Adults is a directory designed to give older adults an awareness of many of the physical activities that are available in the Townsville area.

• Healthy Active Ageing Directory - Cairns
  This directory provides information about services and activities in the Cairns area that encourages healthy lifestyles and helps you stay on your feet. It provides contacts for more information and links to websites where available in the Cairns area.

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Professional resources

The resources in this section provide guidelines for falls prevention and healthy active ageing for those who work with older people in the community:

• Queensland Stay On Your Feet^® Community Good Practice Guidelines
  These guidelines have been developed for professionals based on the latest evidence, program experience and evaluation of falls prevention strategies. They cover demographics, incidence, risk factors, awareness raising activities and falls prevention interventions.
  
  Due to the file size the guidelines have been split into sections for ease of downloading.
  Section A - Cover page and contents
  Section B - Parts 1 and 2
  Section C - Parts 3 and 4
  Section D - Part 5
  Section E - Part 6
  Section F - Part 7
  Section G - Parts 8, 9 and 10

• Deakin Report
  This academic paper (commissioned by Deakin University's Cochrane Health Promotion and Public Health Field and School of Health and Social Development) assists with developing evidence-based support for policy and practice in falls prevention for older people. The report includes literature reviews, extensive references and the most current research findings.

Resources for hospitals and residential aged care facilities

• Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls in Older People: Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals and Residential Aged Care Facilities (Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care 2005)
  These evidence-based national guidelines for hospitals and residential aged care facilities are commonly known as the 'green box'. The guidelines outline a broad strategic approach and individual interventions at the point of care. 

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Last Updated: 23 September 2009
Last Reviewed: 01 August 2008