{"id":529,"date":"2025-11-11T15:12:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T15:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/services\/services-falls\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T15:23:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T15:23:37","slug":"services-falls","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/services-falls\/","title":{"rendered":"Falls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-do-falls-happen-to-care-home-residents\">Why do falls happen to care home residents?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">It is often a combination of reasons that leads to a fall.&nbsp; Here are a few possible things that might be involved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Health &#8211; e.g. eyesight, pain, strength or hydration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medication &#8211; too many medications or certain types<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environment &#8211; e.g. furniture, lighting, noise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other factors &#8211; e.g. footwear or walking aids<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"if-they-do-happen-how-can-they-be-managed\">If they do happen, how can they be managed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">All care homes have plans for how to manage a fall.&nbsp; These can vary, but usually involve:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Assessing the resident where they are to make initial decisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Giving first aid and calling emergency help if needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If suitable, using trained techniques and sometimes equipment to help them up<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reassessing, getting further advice or help if needed, and monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recording all information, and where appropriate reporting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-can-care-homes-reduce-falls\">How can care homes reduce falls?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">As falls have many reasons there is not one simple answer to this question.&nbsp; By recording information care homes can learn from patterns of falls.&nbsp; The patterns can be in individuals or across the home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with specialist advice, input and resources they can find ways to reduce falls.&nbsp; Examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Checking footwear and foot health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical activity programmes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Good nutrition and hydration for residents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medication reviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Checking walking aids, hearing aids and glasses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff training and ensuring good staffing levels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensuring a safe environment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide has-2-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.careinspectorate.com\/images\/documents\/2737\/2016\/Falls-and-fractures-new-resource-low-res.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Managing Falls and Fractures in<br>Care Homes for Older People \u2013<br>good practice resource<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A helpful guide from the Care Inspectorate and NHS Scotland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.careinspectorate.com\/images\/documents\/2737\/2016\/Falls-and-fractures-new-resource-low-res.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2022\/03\/Managing-Falls-and-Fractures-Guide.jpg\" alt=\"Golden Gate Bridge\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-can-i-get-more-information\">Where can I get more information?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">If you are concerned about a care home resident having falls or at risk of falls you can contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Care home staff or management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scottish Care Inspectorate &#8211;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.careinspectorate.com\/index.php\/guidance\/9-professional\/2737-falls-and-fractures\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guidance on Falls and Fractures<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>City of Edinburgh Council via&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.edinburgh.gov.uk\/socialcaredirect\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Social Care Direct<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/scottishcare.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottish Care&nbsp;<\/a>(independent care homes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/services\/services-physical-activity\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/services\/services-physical-activity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physical Activity for those living in Care Homes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-pb-accordion-item c-accordion__item js-accordion-item no-js\" data-initially-open=\"false\" data-click-to-close=\"true\" data-auto-close=\"true\" data-scroll=\"false\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\"><h2 id=\"at-5290\" class=\"c-accordion__title js-accordion-controller\" role=\"button\">Falls Awareness Week Resources<\/h2><div id=\"ac-5290\" class=\"c-accordion__content\">\n<p class=\"has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\">Falls are not an inevitable part of getting older and there are things we can all do to reduce them, while promoting safer mobility, and good quality of life for all individuals living in our care homes.<br><br>Posters are available to display in your Care Home:<br><br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2023\/09\/FAW-2023-Deconditioning-Prevention-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Deconditioning Prevention&nbsp;<\/a><br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2023\/09\/FAW-2023-Medication-Review-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Medication Review<\/a><br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2023\/09\/FAW-2023-Nutrition-and-Hydration-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Nutrition and Hydration<\/a><br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2023\/09\/FAW-2023-Safer-Environment-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Safer Environment<\/a><br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2023\/09\/FAW-2023-Safer-Mobility.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Safer Mobility<\/a><br><br>More information can also be found at&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/padlet.com\/belindaxwilson\/falls-awareness-week-resources-33nt2oesmmyg9ww5\" target=\"_blank\">Falls Awareness Week Resources (padlet.com)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-8f07bcdb\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;min-height:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0aac7b1b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Care Homes Falls Procedure and Tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"> Documentation created by Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, available for use in all Lothian care homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-pb-accordion-item c-accordion__item js-accordion-item no-js\" data-initially-open=\"false\" data-click-to-close=\"true\" data-auto-close=\"true\" data-scroll=\"false\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\"><h2 id=\"at-5291\" class=\"c-accordion__title js-accordion-controller\" role=\"button\">Documentation<\/h2><div id=\"ac-5291\" class=\"c-accordion__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\">\n<li style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/07\/1-EHSCP-Care-Home-Falls-Procedure-CEC-2025-06-24-V24.docx\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"12501\">Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership &#8211; Falls Procedure<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/07\/2-EHSCP-Managing-a-Fall-in-a-Care-Home-Flowchart-2025-06-24-V21.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"12502\">Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership &#8211; Managing a Fall in a Care Home Flowchart<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/07\/3-EHSCP-Pre-Admission-Falls-Questionnaire-2025-06-24-V8.docx\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"12503\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership &#8211; Pre-Admission Falls Questionnaire<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:0;margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/10\/4-EHSCP-Care-Home-MFRS-2025-06-24-V19.docx\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"13012\">Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership &#8211; Falls Multifactorial Risk Screen<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/07\/5-EHSCP-Care-Home-Post-Falls-Incident-Report-2025-06-24-V4.docx\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"12505\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership &#8211; Post-Falls Incident Report<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/07\/6a-EHSCP-Falls-Data-Spreadsheet.xlsx\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"12506\">Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership &#8211; Falls Data Spreadsheet<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/07\/6b-Screenshot-of-worked-example-of-Falls-Data-Spreadsheet.png\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"12507\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership &#8211; Falls Data Spreadsheet (example)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\">These documents were developed from the Scottish Care Inspectorate \/ NHS Scotland best practice resource &#8216;Managing falls and fractures in care homes for older people&#8217;, alongside knowledge of local practice, national policy and current evidence base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other care homes are very welcome to review their suitability for use within their own care home and appropriately adapt and brand for use. Also, the EHSCP and the Scottish Care Inspectorate would very much appreciate feedback on their use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Training on the use of these documents is available to all care homes based in Lothian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"text-transform:none\">These documents will be reviewed annually, or if significant change arises, by the Edinburgh Falls Documentation Group.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>F<\/strong>alls MDT meeting template for visiting practitioners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400;text-transform:none\">Falls in care homes are almost always multifactorial and reducing them has been shown to benefit from a multidisciplinary approach. Any visiting practitioner with a referral relating to a resident experiencing fall(s) can use this tool as a guide to chairing multidisciplinary meeting(s), including member(s) of the care home workforce and other relevant practitioners. There is also potential for the resident and\/or their family or next of kin to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/10\/Falls-document-for-Clinician-Led-MDT-and-Care-Home-discussion-meetings-V7-14-Mar-2023.docx\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"13014\">Care Home Falls First Contact Practitioner Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Reviewed November 2025 JG and DW<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why do falls happen to care home residents? It is often a combination of reasons that leads to a fall.&nbsp; Here are a few possible things that might be involved: If they do happen, how can they be managed? All care homes have plans for how to manage a fall.&nbsp; These can vary, but usually<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/mainmenuvertical.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-529","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/author\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"Why do falls happen to care home residents? It is often a combination of reasons that leads to a fall.&nbsp; Here are a few possible things that might be involved: If they do happen, how can they be managed? All care homes have plans for how to manage a fall.&nbsp; These can vary, but usually","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13299,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/529\/revisions\/13299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}