Queensland Stay On Your Feet® Toolkit

Background

About the Queensland Stay On Your Feet® Community Good Practice Model
The Toolkit is based on the four phase Queensland Stay On Your Feet® Community Good Practice Model for falls prevention in older people. The Model provides a framework to investigate falls and contributing factors, as well as help reduce falls and subsequent injury [5] and promote healthy active ageing.

The Model encourages an evidence-based and sustainable response to reducing falls in older people and promoting healthy active ageing by:

  • determining what the community is currently doing and can do [4]
  • incorporating falls prevention and healthy active ageing into daily practice, procedures and core business of organisations
  • encouraging individuals to change their lifestyle and behaviours [4].

The Model should be used collaboratively by all levels of communities, organisations, individuals, agencies and government departments.

How was the Toolkit developed?
The Model's four phases were developed as a result of consultation, expert opinion and practical experiences. It is based on current falls prevention evidence and good practice planning, implementation and evaluation. The Toolkit also captures key learnings from trial falls prevention projects conducted in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. For further information on these projects, visit:

Why do older people experience falls?

There are many interacting risk factors associated with falls. These risk factors can be related to personal/intrinsic factors (eg. loss of muscle strength), or environmental/extrinsic factors (eg. poor stairway design).

What are the main approaches for preventing falls?

There are three main approaches for preventing falls: the multifactorial approach, the single intervention approach and multi-strategic approaches.

  • A multi-factorial approach involves addressing the variety of risk factors which cause falls in the community simultaneously. Research shows that the multi-factorial approach is the most effective.
  • A single intervention approach involves completing a falls risk assessment for each individual and developing a tailored program for that person. Organisations may also look at how they can integrate falls prevention into their core business.
  • A multi-strategic approach involves using many different strategies to reduce falls and promote healthy, active ageing such as building individual knowledge and skills, and creating and maintaining supportive community environments and policies.  The 'E's' of injury prevention and the ecological model are examples of a multi-strategic approach.

Last updated: 5 June 2012