Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Analysis

Shifting the focus in fracture prevention from osteoporosis to falls

BMJ 2008; 336 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39428.470752.AD (Published 17 January 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;336:124

Rapid Response:

Home Safety - helping prevent falls

Ceredigon Care and Repair developed an innovative new service in
2004, to ensure that falls due to the home environment are reduced. This
service was to complement falls prevention work carried out at Bronglais
Hospital, which included strength and balance, and medical reviews.
We developed our own Home Safety - Risk Assessment tool, which is
undertaken by our HS Officer (not an OT). It assesses the home, not the
client, and concentrates on access, stairs and passage ways. It also
covers Fire Prevention, Security and Energy Efficiency. Advice is given
and followed up in writing, and any adaptations are carried out by our own
HS Craftsman -e.g. Handrails, stairails, grab rails, tacking down carpets,
steps.

We receive referrals from Falls teams(led by Dr Hugh Chadderton),
Osteoporosis Nurses, District nurses, discharge teams and directly from
clients. The scheme is supported by Local Health Board, NHS Trust, Local
Authority and Welsh Assembly Government.
The service won a Care and Repair Cymru Award for challenging dependence
in 2007, and was used as a best practice toolkit by Health Challenge Wales
in 2006.

Last year 280 older people received the service.

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

22 January 2008
Dafydd Pugh Jones
Ceredigion Care and Repair
Ceredigion, Wales, SY23