specialty focus
Picture : Supplied .
Falls risk
Reversing frailty to curtail ‘ alarming ’ falls increase
By Elise Hartevelt
A new program is helping to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people transitioning from hospital to home .
The project , ‘ Being your Best ’, has been developed by aged care provider Bolton Clarke to reduce or reverse frailty by delivering interventions .
One in two people over 65 are impacted by frailty , which can lead to a cascade of repeated hospitalisations and loss of independence , according to research lead professor Judy Lowthian .
“ There ’ s been an alarming increase in falls and frailty in older people ,” she said .
“ So , that calls for this program more than ever .”
More than 60 per cent of hospitalisations and 94 per cent of deaths are caused by falls in people aged 65 and over .
Fall risk and frailty are closely intertwined as they carry significant physical and mental health indicators .
“ Frailty is more than just physical ,” Lowthian said .
“ When someone needs a cane to walk and falls more often , it also has to do with people losing weight or not eating well . “ They might also decline cognitively and be less socially connected with other people .”
The program targets recently hospitalised older people , assesses their
physical and mental wellbeing and then sets up a number of interventions .
By zooming in on four aspects of frailty – nutrition , cognition , exercise and connectedness – the project hopes to prevent older people from becoming more frail .
“ We ’ re picking people up after they ’ ve had a hospitalisation because we know that , when older people go to the hospital , they often deteriorate ,” Lowthian said .
“ Then , we ’ re linking them with community services and people to do activities with while focusing on these aspects .”
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic , up to one in two older Australians were ‘ pre-frail ’, which has now become a common reality , Lowthian said .
Recurring lockdowns have led to social isolation and decreased physical activity in community-dwelling older people and those living in residential care .
Hospitalisations due to falls , however , were reduced by 14 per cent over the past two years .
While this may be linked to Covid interrupting the daily lives of many Australians , restrictions have increased frailty among older people , Lowthian said .
“ We ’ ve all had pretty hefty pandemic restrictions , which have been essential because we ’ ve needed to curtail this infection .”
“
We ’ re really ramping up progress .
“ But now , physical frailty has grown because people haven ’ t moved as much as they were .
“ Many , in fact , have been limiting themselves to just one room in the house .”
The researcher said there are now concerns that older people have become deconditioned to exercise and socialisation that has been necessary to keep frailty at bay .
“ Older people are still quite fearful about going out ,” she said .
“ And I think we ’ ll continue to see an increase in physical , cognitive and social frailty .” During lockdowns , Bolton Clarke brought in iPads with appointed care workers to try and keep residents connected with family and loved ones outside of the care home .
Lowthian said it ’ s been difficult for many aged care providers as they have had to keep residents inside their rooms instead of in common areas to socialise during activities and meal breaks .
Research and development of the program has been on hold for two years due to Covid restrictions .
“ We ’ re really ramping up progress at the moment ,” she said .
“ And we ’ re getting positive responses , which is great .
“ Hopefully the program will help improve the wellbeing and health of many older people .” ■ agedcareinsite . com . au 21