Staff education and training programs

Staff education and resourcing can provide the foundation on which organisations build falls prevention programs. Staff recognition of the magnitude and consequences of falls and the risk factors that can lead to falls, is critical to developing strategies to help prevent falls. Without this information staff cannot confidently promote the falls prevention message or put in practice evidence based falls prevention practices. Education should be provided to all staff, on all shifts, and should include a number of sessions and forums eg. lectures, workshops, interactive and innovative sessions, to give staff ample opportunity to ask questions during and after sessions.

Staff should try to provide residents and their families with accurate information about falls - their causes and management. Equally important is to convey consistent messages that 'falls don't just happen', that falls are not an inevitable part of ageing, and falls can be prevented.

A number of staff education resources have been included:

• PowerPoint presentations, manuals, posters etc

• Staff surveys for use pre- and post- education sessions