As part of Calvary’s has an ongoing program to prevent falls, this April Falls Day, 1 April, staff at Calvary Mater Newcastle will help spread important falls prevention messages to patients, visitors and the local community.

Calvary Mater Newcastle is hosting a Falls Prevention information stand in the hospital’s main foyer and additionally, hospital staff, with the help of ICON School of Make Up, will be painted with fake bruises, cuts and grazes, in an effort to start a conversation about the risks falls pose, especially to the elderly.

Kim Kolmajer, Assistant Director of Nursing Services and Chair of the Hospitals Falls Committee, says, “There has been extensive research demonstrating that many falls among the elderly, even the frail, can be prevented.

“People often dismiss falls as a minor thing but the impacts of a serious fall can be devastating. This April Falls Day, we want to spread the message that falls are preventable and provide members of our community with the necessary skills and advice to help prevent these accidents occurring. Getting regular eye checks, keeping physically active and ensuring furniture is secure, are just a few prevention measures that can be utilised.”

April Falls Day is a day when health services throughout NSW promote Falls Prevention messages to staff and patients, families and carers, community services and the general community.

Further Falls Facts:

• More than one in three people aged 65 or over fall at least once a year and many fall more often. Falls are even more common among residents of aged care facilities, up to half of whom fall at least once a year.

Fall-related injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for older people

• In 2009, 26 per cent of NSW residents aged 65 years or older fell at least once.

• In NSW each year, falls lead to approximately 27,000 hospitalisations and at least 400 deaths in people aged 65 and older. The rate (age-standardised) of hospitalisations for falls is over three times higher among residents of aged care facilities than among the other older people.

• Age-standardised rates of fall-related hospitalisations among older people have been increasing for more than 10 years.

• Even non-injurious falls can have negative impacts, such as loss of confidence and activity restriction.

• Falls are the most commonly reported adverse event among hospital inpatients.