'Staff vigilance,' enhanced measures, heading up home's falls-prevention program

Rosebridge Manor working vigorously to reduce falls

January 27, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

Nancy Unsworth, the director of care of care at Rosebridge Manor, says "staff vigilance," coupled with enhanced physiotherapy programs and closely scrutinizing medications are some of the highlights of the Jasper long-term care home's falls-prevention program this year.

At the moment there are eight residents participating in the home's falls-prevention program. These residents are identified with yellow logos on their assistive devices and at bedsides to help staff members remain cautious of those who are at the highest risk of falling.

"I think the vigilance of the staff is our biggest success," says Unsworth.

"What we're doing is we've (identified) those who are prone to leaving their walkers behind and getting up unassisted or who tend to hurry. (The logos) make the staff aware and vigilant to get to them right away and assist them, slow them down and calm them down."

An important part about this methodology is that it falls in line with OMNI Health Care's dedication to supportive measures, notes Unsworth.

By utilizing these laminated yellow logos - similar to the yellow signs used by environmental services staff to mark wet floors - to identify people at high risk of falling, these residents are unaffected in their daily routines.

"It's the staff's behaviour that we've changed, not the residents' behaviour," says Unsworth.

Unsworth adds that the home is also looking at scrutinizing pharmaceuticals more closely to ensure medications are not putting people at risk for falls.

"We're trying to ensure that that's not bringing on more risks," she says.

By enhancing physiotherapy services, especially range-of-motion exercises, Unsworth says team members are hoping to further reduce the risk of falls.

Unsworth adds that the home's team members are engaging families to include them in the falls-prevention program. This means teaching families about ways they can help prevent putting their loved ones at risk of falling during visits.

"The families have to leave these folks set up safely, everybody has to think about it all the time," she says.

If you have a story you would like to share with the OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

Back to News