Free Inspection Service Targets Fatal Falls

Media Release

Free Inspection Service Targets Fatal Falls

Monday, 16 May 2011 11:45

Archicentre

Archicentre today said thousands of elderly people were living with dangerous slip and trip hazards, which could be fatal or result in serious injury such as fractured hips or broken arms.

Annually in Victoria there are *approximately 250 fall-related deaths, 12,000 fall-related hospital admissions and at least 12,000 hospital emergency department presentations for fall injuries in the age group 65+ years. * (Source: Monash University Accident Research Centre).

A hazardous uneven pathway could cause an older resident to trip and fall whilst attempting to negotiate the uneven paving.

David Hallett, Archicentre State Manager Victoria said the danger increases in the upcoming winter months with shortened daylight hours, damp slippery steps, and the increased use of electric radiators with long electrical cords - a major trip hazard, as older persons try to stay warm.

From over 50,000 Home Safety Inspections conducted by Archicentre in Victoria since 1998, 31% of homes inspected were found to have trip and slip hazards and 1 in 5 homes had electrical faults.

Archicentre manages the Home Renovation Service for older or disabled Victorians, funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Human Services, and is urging Victorian aged pensioners and the disabled to utilise the free home inspections. This could help them identify and address any potential hazards.

*There are more than 930,000 Victorians aged 70 years or over and this number will reach 1.6 million over the next 20 years. This will further increase the need to monitor safety hazards in the home. * (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics).

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the direct cost to the nation's health system to help people aged 65 years and over recover from falls was $566 million. It costs $555 a day to keep an older person in a Victorian hospital. The lifetime cost of fall injuries for Victorians aged 65 years and older is estimated at $199.3 million annually.

Mr Hallett said environmental risk factors contributing to falls in the home are slippery surfaces and uneven floors, poor lighting, poorly designed steps and stairs and lack of grab rails, and also hard surfaces causing injury on landing. But protruding door thresholds, loose rugs and carpet runners can also be hazardous, as well as tangled power and telephone cords.

"Unfortunately falls in the home can also lead to the loss of independence for older Victorians. For those people the injuries sustained as a result of a fall can mean costly home modifications or an inability to return to their homes because the injuries are so severe."

Mr Hallett said that Victorian aged pensioners and the disabled, or their children who are concerned about their safety, can organise a free home safety inspection funded by the Victorian Government to identify and provide a plan to fix danger spots in the home.

Archicentre's Tips on Fall Prevention:

A flat, accessible site is ideal for older residents who gradually lose mobility or balance and risk injury, whilst attempting to negotiate uneven paving or steps.
Weather protection between the garage and house will help reduce risks, such as carrying groceries in the rain over wet, slippery surfaces.
Interior colour schemes with a good contrast helps people with diminishing eyesight identify doors, entranceways, and changed surface conditions.
Installing extra power points eliminates the tangle of loose extension leads that can cause unexpected falls.
Impact-absorbent floor surfaces to reduce potential falls.
Level entry showers.
Grab rails in the bathroom for the shower and toilet, and at front and rear steps.
Replacement of worn, torn or loose carpet.
Reflective or brightly coloured strips on stairs.
Sensor lights to external areas.

The Home Inspection Service will assess the house by checking the requirements of grab rails, flooring - slip issues, paths - tripping, ramps, taps and hot water issues.

The FREE Home Safety Inspections are funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Human Services (DHS) for aged pensioners and disabled persons. To access the service telephone 1300 136 513.

How serious is the problem?
* Among older Victorians (aged 65 years and over):

One in three experience at least one fall each year.
Falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths, hospital admissions and emergency department presentations in older people.
Falls most commonly occur in the home.
Women account for the majority of fall-related deaths, admissions and emergency department presentations.
Fractures account for 80% of fall related deaths, one half of hospital admissions and two thirds of emergency department presentations.
The most common site of fractures is the hip, followed by the wrist and forearm. 15% of women and 6% of men will suffer a hip fracture during their lifetime. The probability of permanent admission to an aged care institution for community living older people who fracture their hips is 28% in the year after fracture.

* Source 'Facts on Falls Among Seniors' - Monash University Accident Research Centre 2005

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, Archicentre - Mobile: 0417 329 201

Media Release

Free Inspection Service Targets Fatal Falls