Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for an assessment of the risk of falls
- Confirm assessment requirements with supervisor or relevant health professional
- Identify assessment requirements outside scope of roles and responsibilities and report to supervisor or relevant health professional
- Work with the older person and their carer to establish their involvement in the assessment and further actions
- Provide information to clarify own role, responsibilities and accountability
- Provide information to clarify the assessment process, information that will be obtained and stored
- Provide information to clarify relevant others who might see the assessment results
- Communicate in a supportive and encouraging manner that is respectful of the older person and their carer's level of understanding and cultural background
- Obtain the older person's informed consent to the assessment process
- Conduct an assessment of the risk of falls
- Conduct assessment in a manner respectful of the older person's privacy, dignity, wishes and beliefs
- Determine the older person's concerns about falling
- Determine how the older person has coped with any previous fall/s
- Identify and explore factors in the older person's lifestyle that might affect their level of risk
- Determine the older person's physical indicators of risk of falls using appropriate tools and methodologies
- Conduct the assessment in a manner that minimises unnecessary discomfort to the older person
- Conduct the assessment in a manner that maximises the participation of the older person
- In collaboration with supervisor and/or or relevant health professional, determine any condition/s that the older person has that might affect their level of risk
- Where appropriate, use the support of carers during the assessment process
- In collaboration with supervisor and/or or relevant health professional, determine the older person's risk factors based on measurements and findings
- Identify the older person's needs, issues and concerns outside scope of practice and refer to appropriate supervisor and health professional
- Implement fall minimisation strategies
- Identify and explain options to minimise the risk of falls
- Work with the older person and their carers to identify strategies that are consistent with their safety needs, priorities and specific requirements
- Implement strategies in a safe and effective manner
- Implement strategies in a manner that minimises the older person's discomfort
- Where appropriate, provide support to the carer to contribute to the strategy
- Monitor fall minimisation strategies
- Monitor the effects of the strategies on the older person
- Identify indicators of increased risk
- Identify when strategies are not having the desired result and identify possible reasons for this
- Reassess and identify more appropriate strategies
- Work with the older person and their carers to assess the outcomes of falls minimisation strategies and discuss with supervisor and/or or relevant health professional
- Complete documentation