How to implement falls response as a domiciliary care agency
As a domiciliary care organisation, you can expand your services and upskill your staff to offer de-risked falls response in the community, through receiving the appropriate training and by using specialist equipment.
In this short article, we will cover the steps you need to take in order to safely and effectively implement falls response in your organisation.
Implementing a post-fall assessment tool
The first step in safely implementing falls response is by implementing a post-fall assessment tool. A post-fall assessment tool will enable your staff to safely and thoroughly assess whether a fallen client is safe to lift, without having to call 999 or 111.
A post-fall assessment tool such as HelpFall will also guide your staff on the most appropriate next step to take, based on the outcome of the assessment. For example, if the assessment shows that the client has not suffered an injury, it will advise that they should be lifted from the floor, using specialist equipment and safe manual handling techniques. If an injury is identified, the tool will advise your staff member to call 999 or a specialist falls team in your area.
In this article, we compare the best post-fall assessment tools for domiciliary care organisations.
Implementing falls lifting equipment
The next step in implementing falls response is to equip your team with appropriate falls lifting equipment.
Using specialist falls lifting equipment ensures your staff are able to lift your clients quickly and safely, with no risk of injury to them and your staff.
How do Felgains help you implement falls response?
As well as providing the HelpFall post-fall assessment tool and the Raizer Lifting Chairs, we provide extensive training for your staff to ensure your falls response service is safe, well-equipped, and qualified.
“The training was extremely clear and informative which gave our team the confidence to assess whether we can lift someone as well as lifting someone using the Raizer Chair.”
Charles Cross, Director, Ashley Care
Frequently asked questions about implementing falls response
What should we do if we have a no-lift policy?
We appreciate many organisations have no-lift policies in place with the aim of protecting their staff and clients from injury.
No-lift policies are based on historic NICE guidance, to stop carers from attempting to manually lift a fallen person from the floor, potentially causing harm to either a carer or the fallen patient.
In reality, a no-lift policy ignores the fact that the majority of fallers are uninjured but simply unable to get back to their feet, and by leaving them on the floor waiting for an ambulance, their risk of developing further injury and complications greatly increases. By using a piece of lifting equipment like a Raizer chair to lift the fallen person, the risk of manual handling injury to the carers and patient is removed.
If you would like to discuss how organisations like Ashley Care have managed the risk when implementing falls response, feel free to reach out to us on 01473 741144 or [email protected], and we would be happy to discuss this with you.
Do I need to tell my insurer about the Raizer? Will it affect my premiums?
We recommend informing your insurer of the use of the Raizer Chair. The Raizer Chair is classed as a piece of moving and handling equipment, so – much like other moving and handling equipment – as long as the caregivers using it are trained and competent, there should be no additional cost.
Have a different question?
Give us a call on 01473 741144, or contact us via the form at the bottom of this page, and let’s have a chat!
| Click here to read a case study of a domiciliary care agency that has successfully implemented falls response. |
Related articles
Should domiciliary care organisations offer falls response?
Is HelpFall suitable for Domiciliary Care organisations?
The Best Falls Lifting Equipment For Domiciliary and Home Care Organisations
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Terry Smith
