Funding helps older Canberrans stay on their feet

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has allocated funding for a range of falls prevention activities in an effort to reduce the number and severity of falls in older Canberrans, ACT Health Minister, Katy Gallagher, has announced funding of $144,566 has been provided through the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program, Stay on Your FeetFalls Prevention Funding Round for 2009-10.

“Falls are a major cause of injury for older people in the ACT and a significant cost to individuals and the community,” Ms Gallagher said.

“The Stay on Your FeetFalls Prevention Funding Round aims to reduce the incidence and severity of falls and fall related injuries among older Canberrans, and to strengthen partnerships with community organisations to help achieve these goals.

“Falls and fall related injuries affect an individual’s health and quality of life. They not only result in physical injuries, but can also lead to other serious consequences for older people, such as a fear of falling again, increased anxiety, loss of confidence, decreased activity and increased dependence.

“People aged over 65 years are at greatest risk of sustaining an injury from a fall, with an estimated 30 to 50% of older community-dwelling adults living in their homes falling each year and up to half experiencing multiple falls.

“The rate of falls and associated injuries is higher for older people in residential aged care and acute care settings, with up to 50% of residents experiencing one or more falls in a 12 month period,” said Ms Gallagher. 

The Falls Prevention Funding Round is open to all organisations that conduct falls prevention activities in the broader community and in residential aged care facilities.

The five projects funded in the latest round include:

• YMCA of Canberra – Tai Chi for Falls Prevention Training and Programs – the funding will enable the YMCA to extend its Tai Chi program which is aimed at men and women older than 60 years of age to assist them to reduce their risk factors for falling by providing accessible and affordable modified classes.
• Darryl’s Den – National Brain Injury Foundation – Restoring and Maintaining Balance while living with a disability/brain injury: this project aims to encourage physical activity through participation in a series of recreational, Tai Chi and gym based balance, core and lower body strengthening exercise classes with participants designing their own home based exercise program.
• Morshead Home, Calvary Retirement Community, Canberra – Blood Pressure and Staff Work Practices in Falls Prevention – the project will develop a simple daily intervention plan for staff to follow for residents at risk of hypotension and place residents in a routine to minimise the effects of hypotension and reduce the risk of falls. Easy to use monitoring tools will also be developed to determine ‘hypotensive at-risk residents’.
• Arthritis Foundation of the ACT – More ways to help our members stay on their feet: this project will involve developing a new falls prevention exercise workshop targeted to members, particularly those not participating in the warm water exercise sessions.
• Therapy ACT – Falls Prevention Program for Ageing Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the ACT: the project aims to reduce the occurrence of falls in ageing adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities by identifying individuals at risk and training staff and carers. The project also includes the development of a Falls Prevention Clinic.

The ACT Health Promotion Grants Program supports and promotes healthy lifestyle choices, improves health outcomes of people experiencing the greatest disadvantage, promotes positive self-image, strengthens and enhances community support networks, provides for safe and supportive environments, reduces health risk factors and influences public policy.