UPA Greenhills Lodge Falls Prevention Program

With Australia’s ageing population, falls are a common problem. Approximately 30% of people aged over 65 years of age will have at least one fall each year, and an even larger 50% of people in residential aged care fall each year!

Falls should not be considered a random event, with a large number of known risk factors, specific exercise programs aimed at balance can significantly reduce the risk of falls in older people.

Falls prevention has been targeted at Greenhills Lodge through the implementation of an exercise based falls prevention class. This involves individually tailored strength and balance re-training activities from the evidence based Otago Exercise Program to target resident’s impairments related to their risk of falls.

Each class is run twice weekly for half an hour and involves a warm-up of gentle flexibility exercises followed by strengthening exercises targeting major muscle groups. After this, balance re-training exercises are performed finishing off with a cool-down of deep breathing and flexibility exercises. performed in an outdoor undercover area, with music to create a fun and inclusive environment in which encourages greater participation and adherence. The Greenhills Falls Prevention Program is a safe, effective, practical, and low-cost strategy from which our older residents are benefiting tremendously! 

Jacquie Everson, Care Manager