From 2000 to 2007 in WA, falls1:
- ranked fourth as a cause of community injury death and second as a cause of community injury hospitalisation
- ranked seventh as a cause of premature death
- ranked fourth as a cause of injury burden
- were the leading contributor to the cost of community injuries
- were the leading cause of injury death and hospitalisation for people over 65 years.
There are a number of organisations, services and programs that work to reduce the risk of falls for those living in the community.
Specialised falls services – falls clinics and falls specialists
Falls clinics and falls specialists provide individualised assessment and management to people living in the community at risk of falls.
Injury Matters
Injury Matters (external site) have been contracted as the key service provider of the Stay On Your Feet WA® program (external site) since 2001. Injury Matters provides a range of support to health professionals (external site) working in falls prevention.
Information on falls prevention exercise programs is accessible through the Stay On Your Feet® eDirectory (external site).
Community Physiotherapy Services
The falls prevention Community Physiotherapy Service (CPS) program is a community based rehabilitation program staffed by senior physiotherapists that incorporates physical activity and education for adults who are at risk or have experienced a fall and is designed to minimise falls risk and optimise balance, physical ability and function. Referrals are currently only accepted from public Health Service Providers. WA health system staff can find referral information on their Health Service intranet.
For more information, contact CPS on cps@health.wa.gov.au or 6457 4714.
Farmsafe WA Alliance
Farmsafe WA Alliance (external site) aims to protect farming families and workers – and improve farm business performance – through better safety awareness and practices, including falls prevention.
Aged Care Assessment Team
General Practitioners, community nurses and social workers can refer patients to the Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) (Healthy WA) to determine which services patients may be eligible for to cope with daily tasks and their own care.
The aim of the Home and Community Care (HACC) program is to assist people to remain at home by providing a range of basic support and maintenance services.
Kidsafe WA
KidsafeWA (external site) provides resources to educate parents and children about the prevention of falls.
1 Reference: Ballestas T, Xiao J, McEvoy S and Somerford P (2011).
The Epidemiology of Injury in Western Australia, 2000-2008. Perth: Department of Health WA. (PDF 1.30MB).