APRIL FALLS LINKS. Falls Prevention is everyone s business. Special Edition Falls Links Newsletter

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1 APRIL FALLS LINKS 1 Volume 13 April Falls Issue 2018 Newsletter of the NSW Falls Prevention Network Special Edition Falls Links Newsletter April is a special time for falls prevention. Along with a conga line during Grand Rounds to promote falls prevention messages, April saw LHDs across NSW conduct a falls superhero fashion parade, host loads of fun competitions with prizes, and hold informative presentations along with colourful promotional displays. The theme for the 2018 April Falls Day was eating well to prevent falls, which highlighted the importance of nutrition and hydration for older people in reducing the risk of falls impacted by malnutrition, dehydration and delirium. A special thanks to all staff and organisations who actively participated in April Falls Day activities in hospital, community and residential care services in their LHDs. Thanks also to the LHD Falls Prevention Coordinators and other staff who contributed to this April Falls Links Issue, as well as to the working group which contributed to the development of the posters, the education PowerPoint presentations and information flyers for staff, patients, families and carers. This newsletter shares some of the great activities that occurred across NSW LHDs throughout April 2018 as part of April Falls Day We hope you enjoy these examples and glean some new ideas for next year s April Falls Day! April Falls Day is only as good as we make it by working together. We d love to hear your ideas for next year s theme. To get in touch, Esther Vance at fallsnetwork@neura.edu.au Falls Prevention is everyone s business

2 2 Northern Sydney Local Health District NSLHD hospitals, including some private and many community health teams who work with older patients, participated in the annual celebration of April Falls Day. The theme was also promoted to younger Mental Health and Disability consumers who may have issues with healthy nutrition and hydration. Around the district were promotion displays, in-service education, poster and quiz competitions with prizes. The NSLHD intranet and media coverage was also excellent. Two April Falls Day competitions set to reward a service showing effective ways to reduce falls, with a cash prize of $1000 to spend on falls prevention equipment. The winners were ward Graythwaite 5 at Ryde Hospital and the Ryde Older Persons Mental Health Team. The runner up was Riverglen at Greenwich Hospital. A Frailty and Sarcopaenia Forum and Expo was held for staff Topics covered included evidence around management of frailty and sarcopaenia from medical, nutritional, physical activity, screening, research and medication perspectives. Expo stall holders were from NSW Health, Northern Sydney Primary Health Network, the CEC and community service providers. South Eastern Sydney Local Health District A range of colourful activities took place across the district this April Falls Day, providing staff and community with lots of options for participation. St George Hospital promoted key falls prevention messages during the annual April Falls Day Ward Walk Around, and through a consumer information stand in the main entrance of the hospital. The ward walk around concept has been a highly effective strategy for improving staff awareness of the scope of the issue, and communicating key falls prevention messages. A jelly bean guessing competition saw the number of jelly beans in the jar corresponding to the number of falls reported (885) at St George Hospital in One to one staff education was provided to ensure clinicians understood when and how to complete falls risk assessments and cognitive screens, as well as how to implement and document appropriate falls prevention strategies. April Falls Day /Month 2018 NSW Falls Prevention Network

3 3 Sutherland Hospital and Health Service held interactive activities including a balance station; fluid volumes quiz and taste testing. Displays included videos on falls facts, mobility aids for patients, vision glasses from Vision Australia, and an electronic cot to highlight falls in children. A happy hour trolley with falls information did the rounds, and multiple prizes and giveaways saw a total of 289 participants in a range of Falls related activities. The Prince of Wales Hospital Community Health held three information sessions for all community health staff by a dietitian. The sessions highlighted the importance of nutrition and hydration for older people to reduce the risk of malnutrition, dehydration and delirium to prevent falls. The Falls Prevention Committee held a display and offered passers by the Sit To Stand test as a way to test their strength and balance. One of the four consumers tested could not complete the Sit To Stand test and were given advice by clinicians on strength and balance exercises. Visiting consumers were also given a copy of the Staying Active and on Your Feet blue book as a reference guide to take home, along with other Falls Prevention promotional material. South Western Sydney Local Health District April Falls Day at Bankstown Hospital included a stall in the foyer promoting nutrition and hydration, along with a physiotherapist conducting balance exercises and a dietician promoting samples of various food textures. Prizes, crosswords and a dietician pop quiz contributed to the fun, and a presentation on falls for staff and students rounded out the range of events. Along with colourful promotional materials and display in the main foyer, Liverpool Hospital held a multidisciplinary staff forum on key topics for Falls Prevention. NSW Falls Prevention Network April Falls Day /Month 2018

4 4 As well as foyer displays at Campbelltown and Camden hospitals, all wards were encouraged to participate in creating displays in a competition to highlight falls risk. Several wards competed and Posey patient falls alarms awarded to three wards, Surgical, Med C & Med E. Camden Hospital produced a falls prevention slide show of CEC flyers and other resources in the main entrance. Fairfield Hospital came alive with a conga line through the hospital leading to Grand Rounds with the subject on falls prevention and malnutrition. A falls prevention superhero fashion parade and competition for department/ward decorations piqued interest in April Falls Day messages. The festivities were rounded out with an executive sponsored hot dog lunch for all staff. An information talk from the hospital s A/Patient Safety Manager, and information stands from local nutrition representatives. Bowral Hospital held Falls Risk Information Zones (FRIZ) on the HDU and ED wards, and a Tai Chi workshop for staff, patients and community members. Sydney Local Health District Balmain Hospital held a falls trivia competition for staff and served non-alcoholic drinks in champagne glasses to the patients for a falls prevention happy hour. Canterbury Hospital held a local falls forum for hospital staff, a stall with free green food, a falls questionnaire competition for staff, ward displays, and distribution of resources to staff, patients, families and carers. Concord Hospital held a falls education event with an hour-long interactive discussion on falls and a presentation on delirium management. RPA Hospital conducted a falls quiz which was completed by over 200 staff, delivered hospitalwide education on delirium and its contribution to falls, and hosted displays in the hospital foyer. April Falls Day /Month 2018 NSW Falls Prevention Network

5 5 Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District April Falls Day activities at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District included an interactive Wii Balance activity run by physios, a Dietetics cook book for nutritious and cost efficient meals, displays on falls prevention aids and other resources, and meal examples from local food services. Far West Local Health District Broken Hill Hospital held an April Falls Day ward displays competition, which saw participation from the Medical, Surgical, Emergency and Sub Acute Rehabilitation Unit teams. Promotion of falls prevention nutrition and hydration via local radio and TV station helped spread the message throughout the community. Other colourful activities across the District included a promotion in the main street by Balranald MPS, and Ivanhoe s community awareness day at the local field day. Southern NSW Local Health District Innovative strategies to spread April Falls Day messages across the SNSWLHD included a message printed on all employee pay slips for 2 weeks in April, an April Falls Day logo on desktop wallpaper across LHD computers, distribution of April falls resource packs to each facility, and Tai Chi classes that included April Falls Day games and quizzes. Observational falls audits were conducted across all wards in the LHD throughout. Murrumbidgee Local Health District Activities across Murrumbidgee LHD included an April Falls Day logo on desktop wallpaper across LHD computers, visits from Clinical Governance Staff with talks to staff, patients, residents and families on the importance of nutrition in falls prevention, and distribution of promotional materials across the District. NSW Falls Prevention Network April Falls Day /Month 2018

6 6 Mid North Coast Local Health District Throughout April MNCLHD saw community physiotherapists give presentations on falls prevention to Camden Haven Anglican Fellowship and Fun, and Social Seniors in Port Macquarie and Laurieton. Coffs Harbour Health Campus held a display in the main foyer. An eating well to prevent falls article was included in the LHD newsletter, as was an article on the Integrated Primary Health Program through HealthPathways. Hunter New England Local Health District At Manning Rural Referral Hospital, April Falls Day was celebrated with inter-professional Grand Rounds on falls prevention and the importance of maintaining good nutrition and hydration. The Grand Rounds showcased some of the initiatives currently being trialled, which include sensory diversional therapy devices made by the local craft centre. Northern NSW Local Health District Byron Bay Hospital held a falls prevention afternoon tea, with games with prizes, and paddles with falls prevention information. Staff modelled mobility aid equipment in areas with patients at a high risk of falls, wore green tshirts promoting falls prevention, and held displays at nurse s stations. April Falls Day /Month 2018 NSW Falls Prevention Network

7 Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District 7 Northern Illawarra Hospitals Group held a multidisciplinary event with physios, dieticians and pharmacists joining nurses in falls education. Sessions included: - taste testing of thickened fluids, - videos and interactive quiz/ information sessions on delirium, and - simulation of meal times on wards. Foyer displays included: - a brainstorming exercise on the enablers and barriers to falls prevention in local wards, - physiotherapists disussing appropriate walking aids, - medication chart and Who am I medication games. Shellharbour Hospital had a fun-packed program which included: - a roving trivia competition on falls management for staff, patients and visitors, - a happy hour with thickened fluids display for visitors and staff to enjoy and taste in the hospital foyer, - staff Mini-Olympics where teams battled to win their first Olympic Medal after a stretch and warm up. Engaging Dental Clinics April Falls Day displays were set up in Dental Clinics at Wollongong, Port Kembla, Warilla, Nowra and Ulladulla. The Port Kembla Dental Clinic also created a board game to demonstrate Falls Prevention messages and clinicians discussed with patients and carers falls risks related to nutrition, hydration and dental hygiene. Further activities across the Shoalhaven Hospitals Group, included: - a falls quiz for all staff, - baking fresh bread in the ward to promote stimulation of appetite for those patients deemed malnourished, - an allied health education stand, - education provided by dietitians to patients, visitors and staff using an interactive trolley. NSW Falls Prevention Network April Falls Day /Month 2018

8 8 Anglicare Throughout April, Anglicare promoted good nutrition with seminars for residents in independent living and residential care homes which included a nutritious morning tea. The seminars received an overwhelmingly positive response. Anglicare also promoted: - a goody bag that included an Anglicare cook book designed specifically for April Falls month, - mini walkathons to align keeping active with eating well, and - educational sessions for registered nurses on prevention, recognition and treatment of sarcopaneia. Posters were produced on: good food for healthy bones, hydration for balance, protein for strong muscles, vegetables and fruit for improved eye health. Let s keep the momentum going! While April is falls prevention season, we encourage you to keep using the falls prevention materials throughout the year. To access the resources any time, see NSLHD has also produced a range of new Falls Prevention materials featuring adorable animal mascots. The CEC is working to make available for use across NSW, so watch this space! Falls Prevention is everyone s business For more information scan with your smartphone April Falls Day /Month 2018 NSW Falls Prevention Network

9 9 Thank you to the CEC April Falls Working Group members The working group included the following people: Kate Fletcher, A/Manager Nutrition Network, ACI Rudi Bartl, Dietitian, CCLHD Sheree Morris, Dietitian, Wagga Wagga Health Service Jodie Ellis, Dietitian, Calvary Health Care, Kogarah Margaret Armstrong, Falls Coordinator, NSLHD Darryn Piper, Communication/Information Manager, NSLHD Population Health Shelley Moor, Falls Coordinator WNSWLHD Esther Vance, NSW Falls Prevention Network Ingrid Hutchinson, Project Officer, CEC (Chair and Project Lead) NSW Falls Prevention Network Background The NSW Falls Prevention Network was established in 1993 to share knowledge, expertise and resources on falls prevention for older people. The network is part of the NSW Falls Prevention Program funded by the NSW Ministry of Health, and its role now includes: - meetings for discussion of falls related issues, - disseminating of research findings, - sharing resources developed and exploring of opportunities to combine resources in joint initiatives, - encouragement of collaborative projects and research, - to act as a group to influence policy, - to liaise with NSW Ministry of Health to provide information on current State/Commonwealth issues in relation to falls and maintenance of resources pertinent to the field. Share your news and information/ideas Do you have any news on falls prevention you want to share with others on the network, or do you want to report on a project that is happening in your area? Please Esther Vance with your information. We also welcome suggestions for articles and information you would like to see in this newsletter. Send your information to: fallsnetwork@neura.edu.au The Network Listserv It is great to see the increased activity on the listserv and we want to continue to promote this. To send an item to the listserv where all members of the network can see it, send an to: nsw-falls-network@lists.health.nsw.gov.au NSW Falls Prevention Network April Falls Day /Month 2018