Falls are a leading cause of injury, loss of confidence, and hospital admissions among care home residents. Nationally, 40% of hospital admissions from care homes are due to falls, with ambulance call-outs alone costing the NHS over £41 million annually.
ARC East Midlands funded research to evaluate the programme across East Midlands care homes, with findings now contributing to a national implementation study in collaboration with ARC Wessex, PenARC, and ARC Greater Manchester.
The evidence shows:
- 43% reduction in falls among care home residents in a randomised controlled trial (RCT).
- 1,657 care home staff trained across 57 UK care homes.
- £2,227 monthly savings in ambulance call-outs in a typical 50-resident care home; potential annual NHS savings over £1 million.
- Recognised as best practice in the NHS England Enhanced Health in Care Homes framework and endorsed by WHO.
- Linked within NICE falls prevention guidance.
- Implementation toolkit and train-the-trainer elearning now supporting rollout across UK regions.
- Evidence contributed to DHSC Falls Themed Review and policy brief shared with APPGs, commissioners and policy makers.
- Further studies underway in stroke survivors and domiciliary care.
To download the toolkit, click here.
