Posters for 3rd World Falls Congress 2026

Introduction Previous quality improvement work in our acute frailty service has focused on improving rates of bone health assessments. Here we examine the outcomes of these assessments. Method Data on bone health assessments were collected retrospectively using electronic health records for patients admitted to Frailty Same Day Emergency Care unit (FSDEC; n=118) and Acute Senior Health Unit (ASHU; n=107) over 2 months. Data collected included whether patients had presented with a fall, had a bone health assessment completed, and the outcome of any assessment. Results 50% of patients seen in

Introduction: Stair falls frequently occur during the transition from level walking to stair descent. Laboratory research indicates that the demands of transition steps are different to continuous descent, yet these findings have not been confirmed in home environments where most falls occur. Using instrumented insoles in naturalistic experimental homes, this early-translational study quantified biomechanical differences between transitional and continuous descent and explored the influence of lighting conditions. Method: Five participants descended a 14-step staircase in an experimental home

Introduction Falls are common high-impact problems in residential aged care facilities (RACFs), posing risks of injury, functional decline, and reduced quality of life. Although many countries have issued falls prevention guidelines for RACFs, their implementation in routine care remains challenging. We address this gap by presenting the development of a multifaceted plan aimed at supporting systematic implementation of a falls prevention guideline in RACFs. Methods The implementation plan was developed within the context of a large-scale falls prevention implementation project in Flanders

1. Introduction Falls among older people are a major public health concern, with one-third of individuals aged 65 and over experiencing at least one fall annually in the Netherlands. In 2023, a national chain approach to falls prevention was introduced to improve identification of older adults at risk of falling and reduce the incidence of fall-related injuries. The chain approach is comprised of four steps: 1) identifying older adults at risk of falling, 2) investigating individual fall risk factors, 3) participating in a falls prevention intervention, and 4) continuing regular physical

Introduction: Virtual wards have been increasingly implemented across the NHS to manage older people living with frailty in their own homes amid rising inpatient pressures. As this care model expands, it’s essential to determine whether virtual wards yield outcomes comparable to those of traditional inpatient care. This review aims to assess the success of virtual wards across key outcome domains. Methods: A literature review of ten studies published between 2014 and 2025 was conducted using electronic databases with relevant keywords. Studies examined multiple aspects of virtual wards

Introduction Free-living gait assessment for fall risk in Parkinson’s disease (PD) often uses inertial measurement units (IMUs) to extract gait characteristics. However, IMU-only approaches lack environmental and behavioural context, which can lead to inflated estimates of fall risk when gait changes are driven by extrinsic factors e.g., obstacles. We combine IMUs with wearable eye-tracking video glasses and AI-based computer vision (CV) to enrich free-living gait assessment with environmental and gaze information, enabling a robust interpretation of fall risk. Methods Seven individuals with

Introduction: Falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence among older adults, with a particularly high prevalence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Indonesia. Although exercise-based fall prevention programmes are effective globally, few have been contextually adapted or tested in LMIC settings. This study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a contextually adapted fall prevention exercise programme incorporating behaviour change support for community-dwelling older adults in Indonesia. Method: A two-arm feasibility randomised controlled

Background: Turning difficulties are a disabling motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD), often contributing to falls and reduced mobility. Despite their clinical significance, turning problems remain challenging to manage, with current interventions offering limited and inconsistent benefits. Pharmacological treatments rarely address complex gait impairments such as turning, while rehabilitation strategies - physiotherapy and cueing - show promise but vary widely in application and effectiveness. Understanding how these approaches are perceived and implemented in practice is essential for

Background: Frail patients are at risk of post-operative orthostatic hypotension. Measuring lying and standing blood pressure (LSBP) is a key part of comprehensive post-operative geriatric assessment. Method: Three cycles of data were collected from the National Hip Fracture Database on patients with neck of femur fractures at Leeds General Infirmary. Each cycle was discussed at local governance meetings, followed by implementation of novel interventions. First, information on LSBP was added to online induction resources. Then, a poster was distributed, and finally, an email template was

Introduction Falls are a common hospital patient presentation. NICE falls assessment and prevention guideline (NG249) includes lying and standing (L&S) blood pressure (BP). The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) outlines a standardised approach for L&S BP measurement; involving lying BP, standing BP within 1 minute and after 3 minutes. We aimed to improve postural BP recording on Cerner Electronic Patient Record (EPR) utilising Quality Improvement methodology to help clinicians make a correct diagnosis. Method Retrospective data was collected using EPR patient notes whereby 12 medical patients

Background The Emergency Department in the Home (EDITH) service provides an alternative to Emergency Department (ED) attendance for older adults by delivering acute emergency care in the person’s home. The service aims to support admission avoidance while promoting safety and functional independence through a multidisciplinary approach, including medical and Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment. Falls in older adults account for approximately 22% of EDITH referrals per month in 2025. Nationally, the cost of fall-related injuries in older adults in Ireland is projected to exceed €2 billion by

Introduction: Falls in older adults are prevalent, costly and frequently under-managed. We developed the Screening, Agility, Frailty & Falls prevention, Empowerment (SAFE) pathway to operationalise guideline-aligned multifactorial assessment, medication optimisation, osteoporosis risk trigger and rapid linkage to community rehabilitation at the first point of contact. We aim to describe implementation of SAFE in the pilot polyclinic, compare delivery of interventions pre- and post-implementation, and assess feasibility for scale-up with a focus on clinical effectiveness, patient safety and

Introduction: Adverse effects(AE) of zoledronic acid(ZA) administration, including electrolyte abnormalities and pyrexia, are well documented in the literature. A retrospective audit of all hip fracture patients that underwent fixation at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast between 01/06/25 and 31/08/25 was performed. Incidence of fragility-fracture patients who received IV ZA post-op and recording subsequent reactions during their inpatient stay was reported. Methodology. A total of 222 patients underwent fixation for hip fractures. 17 were excluded due to fracture eligibility e.g. high

Introduction Falls and fall-related fractures are a major and growing public health challenge among older adults. Their multifactorial nature requires an integrated approach combining prevention, clinical care, education and policy. Effective prevention depends on coordinated action tailored to diverse target groups, including older adults, healthcare professionals and policymakers. A dedicated centre of expertise offers a clear structure to align efforts, translate scientific evidence into practice and support large-scale implementation. By integrating evidence, clinical expertise, education

Introduction Falls are a major cause of morbidity among older adults, with physical, psychological and economic consequences. Despite effective interventions, implementation remains limited, making awareness initiatives essential to encourage recognition of fall risks and effective falls prevention interventions. Method The Flemish Falls Prevention Awareness Week is coordinated by the Centre of Expertise for Falls and Fracture Prevention Flanders in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Flemish Institute for Healthy Living and loco-regional healthcare networks. Campaign participation

Background: Falls remain a major healthcare burden from an individual to societal level. Vestibular disorders are recognised as a significant risk factor for falls in older adults, but identification and assessment of such conditions has only recently been included in national and international guidance. The extent to which National Health Service (NHS) falls services in England are including vestibular assessment is not well known. Method: A freedom-of-information request was sent to 117 Falls Services run by NHS Trusts in England to identify if they included vestibular assessment/management

Introduction: The Action Falls programme is a multifactorial falls-prevention programme shown in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to reduce falls in care home residents by 43%. Action Falls has since been recommended as best practice by NHS England. In the original RCT, training was delivered by a member of the research team face-to-face to “Falls Leads” (registered NHS nurses or allied health professionals), using a train-the-trainer model. A subsequent implementation study indicated that an e-learning approach could offer greater flexibility and scalability. This study evaluated Falls

Introduction: Problematic polypharmacy contributes to an increased risk of medicine-related harm, particularly in those living with frailty or multimorbidity [1]. This pilot aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of introducing a dedicated polypharmacy pharmacist to conduct enhanced falls medication reviews as part of consultant-led ward rounds for targeted cohorts at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Method: An independent prescribing pharmacist conducted weekly medication reviews on a stepdown ward for older patients. Medications were reviewed for safety based on

Introduction Best practice guidance for falls management with care home residents recommends a proactive approach and care home staff require training to support this. The CHAFFINCH (Co-producing tHe implementAtion oF Falls management IN Care Homes) study co-produced a model for falls management. The second phase of the CHAFFINCH study evaluated the feasibility of delivering the model in real-world care home settings. Methods A shared learning model was delivered for 6 months in 10 care homes in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. The model included bespoke training and ongoing support, provided

Background: People recovering after stroke are at increased risk of falls due to impairments in balance, strength and functional mobility. Exercise-based rehabilitation is critical to fall risk reduction; however, access remains limited. Digitally delivered rehabilitation has potential to extend care beyond traditional service models, but successful uptake depends on real-world implementation. Using an integrated knowledge translation approach, this mixed-methods study aimed to inform and evaluate the codesign, delivery and implementation of a tailored digital exercise program after stroke