Posters for 2025 26 International Conference on Falls and Postural Stability

Introduction: Falls are common in people living in care homes (CHs). London Ambulance Service (LAS) data indicated four out of the ten London CHs with the highest conveyance to hospital were in Lambeth and Southwark. Secondary care and community services were unable to provide prompt consultation and address educational needs of staff required to prevent and manage CH falls. Method: The Lambeth and Southwark CH Falls Prevention group was established in 2022 by local care partnerships to explore ways to improve the approach to falls. Following an audit of falls-related service gaps, a Care Home

INTRODUCTION In the recent falls guidelines, multidomain interventions are recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD)[1]. Walking aids improve local balance and stability, increase confidence and reduce mechanical effort associated with walking[2], however walking aid use is associated with recurrent falls in PD[3]. This study aimed to understand pre-fall activity and environmental fall risk in fallers and the differences associated with walking aid use. METHODS An online survey was developed to evaluate retrospective falls in adults ≥60y. 117 PwPD responded to the survey. The

Introduction Falls are a significant health concern, with one in three people over 65 experiencing at least one fall annually. Greater Manchester is leading a world-first pilot of eFalls technology to support healthy ageing and reduce fall-related injuries in older adults. The pilot aims to proactively identify individuals at moderate risk of falling and offer early interventions to maintain their independence and wellbeing. Method The eFalls pilot launched in February 2025 and will run for nine months within the South Wigan Ashton North (SWAN) primary care network in Wigan, Greater Manchester

Abstract title - Compliance with Nutritional Assessment Guidelines and Its Impact in Older Adults with Neck of Femur Fractures: A Re-Audit at Med Abstract Author Name - R Nahar1; V Debnath1; F Jamil2; S Kumar3; A Khattak4; M Shoaib5 Abstract Provenance - 1. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 2. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 3. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 4. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 5. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 6. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; Abstract Content - Title- Compliance

Introduction Inpatient falls remain a major healthcare challenge, with an average rate of 6.6 per 1,000 occupied bed-days in NHS England and Wales hospitals. Prevention of falls during hospital stay based on identifying and managing the modifiable risks are challenging. Multifactorial falls risk assessment and prevention action plan (MFRA FPAP) is a proforma booklet adopted by ABUHB. Methodology The initial QIP (2022–2024) revealed incomplete and poor-quality MFRA. Falls champions were introduced for a period of time, it showed an improvement, but was not sustained. Due to a rise in in-patient

Introduction Falls, in older patients living with frailty, are a common presentation to the medical take. Assessment of bone health is a key component of the comprehensive geriatric assessment and a risk factor for fragility fracture. We collected baseline data highlighting that bone health in this cohort was commonly overlooked. In response, our quality improvement (QI) project led to the development and implementation of an acute bone health assessment toolkit with overall enhancement in assessment. Methods Using QI and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology, baseline data was collected for

Title: Improving Bone Health in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Retrospective Study in a DGH Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, but its impact on bone health is often overlooked. Over 40% of individuals with PD experience recurrent falls, with more than a two-fold increased risk of hip fractures and nearly double the risk of non-vertebral fractures—largely influenced by mobility impairments, vitamin D deficiency, and long-term effects of medication. The aim of this study was to evaluate local compliance with bone health

Introduction Fragility fractures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Early identification of patients at risk is essential for prevention. Bone health assessment tools are recommended in current clinical guidelines for those at risk. Despite this, baseline audit data showed that only 3% of patients admitted to a geriatric ward following a fall had a bone health assessment completed within 72 hours of admission. This project aimed to increase the completion rate of bone health assessments to over 90%. Methods A series of targeted interventions were implemented over four

Introduction: Visual impairment is a key yet often neglected risk factor for falls in older adults. National guidance recommends that vision be assessed routinely as part of a multifactorial falls risk evaluation. This audit aimed to evaluate whether vision was appropriately assessed and documented in patients admitted with falls at Croydon University Hospital. Methods: A retrospective audit was conducted on patients admitted under the acute medical take following a fall between the 1st-12th of February 2025. Patient records were reviewed for documentation of vision assessment, history of

Background: Falls in frail older adults can cause prolonged hospital stays, raising the risk of further falls, infections, and decline. This case shows how delayed discharge and complex care planning can worsen outcomes in this group. Case Presentation An 86-year-old male with Alzheimer’s dementia, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease sustained an unwitnessed fall at home while taking medication. He was found to have an avulsion fracture of the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) with soft tissue changes and was managed conservatively under orthopaedics. His three

Introduction: Polypharmacy—commonly defined as the use of five or more medications—is highly prevalent among older adults and is associated with increased risks of adverse drug events, falls, cognitive impairment, hospital admissions, and reduced quality of life. Inappropriate polypharmacy, where medications provide limited benefit or cause harm, represents a significant patient safety concern. Structured medication reviews (SMRs), supported by validated deprescribing tools such as STOPP/START and Beers Criteria, are essential for identifying and addressing potentially inappropriate

Introduction In older adults, the inability to rise independently after a fall increases the risk of long-lies and associated complications. Up to 65% of individuals attended by ambulance crews post-fall are assisted up without requiring further medical intervention. This study investigated the effectiveness of Floor-Rise Training (FRT) in improving floor-rise ability and reducing fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults. Method This pilot cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted within five existing Otago exercise classes. Sixty-one participants aged ≥65 years were enrolled

Background Stairs are a serious safety hazard for older adults, with stair falls being the leading cause of accidental death [1,2]. Mechanistic, proof-of-principle, research has examined the development of interventions to improve staircase safety. The aims of this systematic review are to synthesise and evaluate stair fall interventions and identify those showing effectiveness and to establish a pathway to implementation for these interventions. Methods Five databases were searched for interventions seeking to reduce risk or occurrence of falls on stairs. Quality of the studies was assessed

Introduction: Inpatient falls are a common cause of harm in hospitalised older adults. National guidance from the 2024 National Audit of Inpatient Falls (NAIF) and Royal College of Physicians (RCP) outlines standards for timely and structured post-falls care. This quality improvement project aimed to assess local adherence to these standards and to implement a guideline to support safer, more consistent inpatient falls management. Method: A retrospective audit reviewed all inpatient falls reported via the Datix system in May 2024. Falls in clinical areas requiring medical review were included

Introduction: Approximately half of individuals aged 80 years and older experience at least one fall per year, costing the NHS an estimated £2 billion annually. Visual impairment is a recognised potentially modifiable risk factor for falls and their resulting consequences including injuries and hospitalisation. Despite this, visual assessment is often overlooked by clinicians when managing these patients, potentially due to the absence of standardised guidelines. Method: A first-cycle clinical audit was undertaken in an acute Geriatric Medicine ward between January 2025 and March 2025

Introduction: Postural hypotension (PH) is a significant predictor of mortality and is associated with increased risk of falls, functional decline and hospital admission among elderly patients. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends routine assessment of PH in patients presenting with falls alongside a comprehensive review of contributing factors such as medication and hydration. This audit aims to evaluate current practice in the diagnosis and management of PH for patients presenting to Frimley Park Hospital’s Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) against

Background This QIP was conducted in the Older Person Assessment Unit (OPAU) at Whipps Cross Hospital, acute care unit serving a diverse older adult population in East London. The project was led by resident doctors under consultant supervision. Introduction Falls are a leading cause of admission to the unit, contributing to injury, prolonged hospitalisation, and physiological decline. NICE CG161 provides evidence-based recommendations for risk prevention. Inconsistent documentation and low referral rates for preventative measures contributed to varied care quality and reduced effectiveness in

Introduction:​ Inpatient falls are a significant concern due to their impact on patient safety and outcomes. A standardised approach to reviewing falls can help identify contributing factors and improve care. Despite the recognised importance of fall reviews, inconsistent documentation and inadequate follow-up remain common challenges. This project aims to enhance resident doctors' reviews of patients after an in hospital fall, and improve their confidence and experience in responding to such calls. Ultimately it aims to determine contributing factors, and guide prompt investigation and

Introduction: Would you drive a car with a worn tyre? Then why use a walking aid with a worn ferrule? Walking aids are essential tools for supporting and maintaining an individual’s independence, function, and safety. They provide greater stability and balance, promote a safe gait pattern by improving speed and stride evenness, and enhance confidence in mobility. However, it is well known walking aids that are incorrectly fitted or equipped with a worn ferrule can increase the risk of injury and or falls and their associated complications, but there is no evidence to suggest worn out ferrules

Introduction: Falls are a common occurrence in both inpatient and emergency settings with CT head imaging being the gold standard for assessing potential intracranial injuries. However, it was noted that CT scans are often inappropriately requested leading to unnecessary radiation exposure and increased healthcare costs. The aim of the audit was to evaluate adherence to NICE Head Injury Guidelines on CT head[i] scanning after falls in a district hospital. Methods: In the first PDSA cycle, 50 adult patients who attended the ED with a fall were randomly selected. Data was collected