TE PUAWAI
• The most serious injuries resulting from falls are fractures and head injuries, with hip fractures being the most common.
• Of those who suffer a hip fracture, nearly 20 percent will die within a year, almost half will require longterm care and half will require help with daily living.
• Half of those who walked without help before fracturing a hip will no longer be able to walk independently in the year following the fracture. 6
The Commission has developed a list of 10 topics on preventing falls and reducing harm from falls. The Open for better care campaign will explore these topics during its focus on falls. To see the 10 topics, and to sign up for alerts on the 10 topics, go to: http:// www. open. hqsc. govt. nz / falls / newsand-events / news / 943 /
Gordon’ s story: in-hospital fall
Gordon was admitted to hospital after having a serious fall at home. During his recuperation in hospital, he was sitting in a chair and reaching for his walker when he fell again and broke his hip. Gordon’ s stay in hospital was extended to nearly two months, and he now lives in a rest home.
The health care assistant who had been looking after Gordon was new and wasn’ t aware of procedures, so she left before the relieving health care worker came in. If she’ d stayed, she could have helped Gordon get his walker without falling.
6 Osteoporosis New Zealand. 2012. Bone Care 2020. Wellington: Osteoporosis New Zealand.
“ Hearing my uncle had fallen again while in hospital made me quite upset,” says Gordon’ s niece, Rosemarie.
“ Staff were really apologetic and did well to get him back on his feet again, but the fall should not have happened in the first place.”
After the fall, Gordon was moved to a room nearer the nurses’ station. Rosemarie thinks this should have happened on admission, when he was assessed as being at high risk of a fall.
Gordon’ s fall might have been prevented if:
• the health care assistant had known the correct procedure was to wait for her replacement rather than leaving Gordon alone.
• Gordon had been closer to the nurses’ station so he could be watched more closely.
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