Safety First: How We Prevent Falls & Accidents

Falls are one of the most common causes of injury among older people, so preventing them shapes how we run every part of the day at Abafields. We work in layers: assessing each resident's individual risk, adapting the environment, supporting strength and mobility, checking health and medication, and training our team to spot problems early.

How we prevent falls at Abafields

1. Assess risk from day one. Before a resident moves in, we look at their mobility, balance, eyesight, medication, continence, memory and any history of falls. These findings go straight into their care plan.
2. Plan around the person. Someone who walks steadily with a frame needs different support from someone who tires by the afternoon or becomes unsteady at night. The care plan sets out which aids to use, when extra help is needed and which times of day need closer attention.
3. Keep the environment safe. We keep walkways clear, rooms free of clutter, flooring non-slip and lighting good, including at night. Handrails are in place, call bells are within reach and furniture is at a height that makes standing up easier. Spills are cleaned up straight away.
4. Support movement and strength. Staying active is one of the best protections against falls. We encourage residents to keep moving in ways that suit them, and we involve health professionals such as physiotherapists where they recommend it.
5. Check health and medication. Some medicines cause dizziness or drowsiness, and problems like dehydration, infections and low blood pressure can make someone unsteady. We raise any changes with the GP or pharmacist and ask for medication reviews when they are needed.
6. Train and support our team. Staff are trained in safe moving and handling, and in spotting early warning signs such as new unsteadiness, increased confusion or a sudden reluctance to walk. Those observations are passed on at every handover.
7. Review after every incident. Every fall and near miss is recorded and reviewed. We update the care plan and look for patterns, such as falls at a particular time of day or in a particular part of the home.

Why falls happen in older age

There is rarely one cause. Falls usually happen when several smaller risks add up:

• Weaker muscles and reduced balance
• Poor eyesight or hearing
• Side effects from medication
• Dehydration, infections or low blood pressure
• Ill-fitting shoes or slippers
• Confusion or memory loss
• Conditions such as stroke, which can affect strength and balance, as we explain in our guide to life after a stroke

Because the causes differ from person to person, so does the prevention plan.

Reducing falls for residents living with dementia

Dementia can make a fall more likely. A resident may misjudge distances, feel restless at night, not recognise a hazard or forget to ask for help. Our dementia care approach focuses on a familiar layout, clear signage, calm routines and regular checks, especially at times when a resident is known to be more restless.

Restricting movement is not the answer, because inactivity leads to weaker muscles and more falls over time. The aim is to keep residents moving safely, with support close at hand.

Other accidents we plan for

Falls are the biggest focus, but safety covers more than that. In our residential care home, the same risk-assessment approach applies to:

• Hot water and hot surfaces
• Safe moving and handling, using the right equipment for each resident
• Medication, which is given by trained staff and recorded
• Choking risks, with food and drink textures matched to each resident's needs
• Fire safety, including evacuation plans and regular equipment checks

What happens if a resident falls

When a fall happens, a member of staff stays with the resident and checks for injury before anyone is moved. If a serious injury is suspected, we call emergency services. Otherwise a senior member of staff assesses the resident, and we contact the GP or nurse where needed.

We tell the family promptly and record exactly what happened. The resident is monitored closely in the hours and days afterwards, because some injuries, including head injuries, can show up later. The care plan is then reviewed so we can reduce the chance of it happening again.

How families can help

You know your relative better than anyone, and small things make a real difference:

• Bring shoes or slippers that fit well and have a good grip
• Make sure glasses and hearing aids are clean and in working order
• Tell us about any recent changes in balance, appetite or mood
• Share how your relative moves about at home, and what aids they already use
• Let us know about anything that has caused a fall in the past

If you are still planning the move, our guide to moving to a care home covers what to prepare, and our list of 15 questions to ask when viewing a care home includes the safety questions worth raising on a visit. It is also worth asking any home how it reviews falls and what it changes afterwards.

If you would like to know how we would manage falls risk for your relative, get in touch with our team and we will talk it through with you.

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