To determine what can be done to address the problem, consider the evidence of what has worked and not worked to reduce falls in older people in the community. Ongoing falls research is continually changing the evidence, which makes staying up-to-date very important.
Examining the research will allow the following information to be collected:
The research will also highlight that:
Taking into account your findings from Phase 1, you will be able to identify:
Now that the evidence of what works and what is being done for falls prevention and the promotion of healthy active ageing in your community has been analysed, you can determine what can be done.
To help determine actions to take, summarise the evidence of what works for falls prevention that relates to your community. The decision making process will need to assess the risk and benefits of doing the intervention as well as the cost and community readiness. A risk factor template is available to assist ion this process.
To prevent falls and promote healthy active ageing, you can work at three levels either independently or in combination. These three levels are community, organisational and individual.
Community
This involves working within an identified community with a range of key stakeholders to undertake a community-based planning process.
To get started, review the results from the community stocktake/mapping and arrange meetings with key stakeholders. Set mutually achievable goals, objectives, and strategies. Develop community action plans with clear roles and responsibilities, including who will be doing what, when and how. Writing this up and sharing with key stakeholders is essential.
Organisational
This involves the organisation considering what can be done to help reduce falls and promote healthy active ageing. It is important that the chosen project/program matches the organisation's core role and mission [94].
In some instances, organisations may require support to take up projects/programs. This support may include meetings, demonstrating project/program advantages, and providing training and resources and materials [90]. This type of support can help ensure that project/programs are adopted by organisations that work with the target group [90].
An easy way to start is by reviewing the organisational context for any opportunities to integrate falls prevention and healthy active ageing into core business. This will include inviting representatives from all levels of the organisation to participate in the planning process. This process will identify how the organisation can contribute to falls prevention and healthy active ageing through its existing structures, systems and services.
The uptake of resources and the level of involvement in a project/program by organisations and services are important for project/program success and sustainability [89]. The adoption of the project/program by other organisations can be measured in Phase 4: Review.
Organisations also need to consider slips, trips and falls risk management for their employees and clients. A useful resource is a booklet produced by the Queensland Department of Industrial Relations titled 'Slips, trips and falls prevention - a little slip at work can have a big impact on your life'.
Individual
This involves setting up practices and procedures to identify high risk individuals, assessing their risk, tailoring interventions to meet their identified needs and referring them to appropriate health and/or community services.
An easy way to get started is to engage a range of health professionals to undertake falls risk screening, assessments, interventions and referrals.
Falls prevention will be more effective and result in better outcomes if an integrated, consistent and coordinated approach to falls prevention across the health continuum is used.
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