Posters

Introduction: Balance can be described as how the body is controlled relative to the base of support (BOS) formed by the feet . Recently, a 2D model of the functional BOS (fBOS), above which we can manipulate functional forces (>40% body weight), considerably improved the BOS estimate (Millard+Sloot2025). However, young people showed a large variation in fBOS area (9-36% of the foot), representing differences in either balance ability or task execution. This study examined whether task execution (fear and motivation) influence the measured fBOS area and fBOS repeatability. Methods: Ten young

Introduction: Exercise-based programmes reduce falls in older adults, yet adherence is often suboptimal. There is evidence to support the use of motivational interviewing (MI) for strengthening motivation for behaviour change; but its additive benefit with exercise for falls prevention remains unclear. This systematic review examined whether exercise and MI improve falls-related outcomes among older adults. Method: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and EMBASE were searched from inception to September 2025. Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials were eligible if MI was

Introduction Falls are the leading cause of injury-related mortality and hospitalization in older adults and are frequently related to medication use. In the AD FICE_IT study, we examine the effectiveness of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) for optimizing medication use and reducing fall risk increasing drugs (FRIDs). We describe the study design and present preliminary findings on physicians’ satisfaction with the CDSS. Methods To evaluate the effect of the CDSS on time to first injurious fall, a multicenter, cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in nine Dutch hospitals

Introduction: Fall prevention exercise programs are available to community-dwelling Canadians aged 50+ through diverse organizational models that vary in how they meet criteria to effectively prevent falls. Context, the unique combination of characteristics and circumstances in which a program is embedded, is essential for understanding program delivery and guiding adaptation. Our objective is to describe and compare the implementation contexts of four Canadian community fall prevention group exercise programs. Methods: Data gathered from each program included organizational documents, key

Introduction Most hip fractures follow a fall. NOGG guidance recommends IV zoledronate first-line post hip fracture. Following a 2023 British Isles consensus statement, zoledronate is increasingly given to patients with renal impairment. This service evaluation assessed the safety of post-hip fracture IV zoledronate given in renal impairment. Method In a retrospective cohort study of sequential hip fracture admissions over 6-months, data were extracted from electronic medical records using a standardised template, regarding acute phase reaction (APR) and acute kidney injury (AKI). APR was

Introduction Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major preventable cause of hospital-associated morbidity and mortality, particularly in older medical inpatients. Frailty, immobility, multimorbidity, acute illness, and prolonged admission increase VTE risk, while bleeding risk, renal impairment, falls, and polypharmacy complicate thromboprophylaxis decisions. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance recommends clinicians assess all patients for VTE and bleeding risk at admission and reassess if the clinical situation changes. This audit evaluated compliance with VTE prevention

Background Falls are a common presentation within frailty services and frequently coexist with multimorbidity, polypharmacy and cognitive impairment. The Elderly Care Assessment Service (ECAS) at St David’s Hospital, Cardiff, assesses patients with frailty syndromes using comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) delivered by a multidisciplinary team. Physiotherapy-led functional measures inform falls risk and rehabilitation planning; however, medication-related vulnerability, particularly anticholinergic burden, may contribute to falls risk through mechanisms not fully captured by functional

Introduction Primary care has a central role in dementia risk reduction, early recognition, cognitive assessment, referral, and longitudinal care. However, dementia-related work in primary care is constrained by limited consultation time, variable clinician confidence, fragmented pathways, and unequal access to specialist input. Digital tools, clinician education, and service-redesign interventions have been proposed to strengthen dementia care in this setting. We aimed to systematically review completed intervention studies evaluating digital, educational, screening, blended, or service-based

Introduction 210,000 emergency admissions were related to falls in people aged 65 and over in England 2022/2023 1. Many falls in older people are preventable. New NICE guidance NG249, highlighted the need for patient education, recommending that clinicians ‘discuss ways that people can reduce their risk of falls as well as improving their overall wellbeing, and provide information that they can take away’ 2 The Older Persons Assessment and Liaison service (OPAL) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, provides an acute assessment service to frail older adults presenting in the emergency

Introduction: The benefits of physical activity to maintain independence into older age are well understood, but the challenge for health professionals is ensuring interventions are sustainable. The East Sussex Community Falls Team uses a multifactorial assessment with emphasis on strength and balance exercises to improve quality of life and reduce risk of falls. A considerable number of clients who had received strength and balance exercises were re-referred with falls and declining mobility within 2 years. Engagement with previously provided exercises had ceased. The aim of this quality

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. The Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) is an advance care planning tool used to ensure that patients receive care in line with their preferences and medical needs (Resuscitation Council UK, 2025). Over 2024/2025 DNACPR (Do-Not-Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) forms were replaced with ReSPECT at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH). ReSPECT is now the sole documentation method for resuscitation decisions at NUH in adults. This is a significant change, so this qualitative study aimed to identify what worked well and what could be improved

Introduction: ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) forms should contain personalised recommendations for a person’s future clinical care. Our project assessed the quality of ReSPECT forms and attempted to understand the training resident doctors received and their confidence completing forms. Method: A scoring system out of 9 was created to assess the quality of ResPECT forms. The system assessed factors including legibility, patient and family involvement and mental capacity assessments. It also covered the clarity of documentation around resuscitation

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

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as Horton’s disease - a large‑vessel vasculitis characterized by granulomatous inflammation of medium and large-sized arteries - is the most common primary systemic vasculitis in adults over the age of 50 . It shows a strong predilection for women, particularly those of Northern European ancestry. The classical presentation includes new‑onset headache, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication and visual disturbance, though the clinical spectrum is heterogeneous and may overlap with other conditions common in older adults . Delayed diagnosis of giant cell

Introduction A Quality Improvement Project on UHCW’s largest Care of the Elderly ward, aiming to reduce deconditioning, by using intra-MDT education to improve the proportion of patients sitting out in a chair. Method We measured the proportion of patients who sat out in a chair across five weekdays. We did this by: 1) Observing the number of patients sat out, 2) Discussing with nursing/HCA staff whether patients had sat out and if not, the reason why and 3) Reviewing medical/nursing/physio documentation. We also reviewed baseline mobility, to understand what proportion of our patients we

Introduction High quality end of life (EOL) care is essential to ensure comfort, dignity, effective symptom control, and care aligned with patient wishes. The West Midlands Palliative Care guidelines emphasise early recognition of dying, anticipatory prescribing, communication with patients and families, deprescribing non-essential medications, and individualised care planning. Delayed recognition of dying and inconsistent documentation may negatively affect patient-centred care. `To evaluate whether EOL care within an elderly care unit was delivered in accordance with West Midlands Palliative