Building a Portal for Seniors’ Falls Prevention : The Alberta Experience

1. Building a Portal for Seniors’ Falls Prevention :The Alberta Experience Lynda McPhee Education Coordinator, ACICR lynda.mcphee@ualberta.ca 780-492-9768

2. Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research Vision: an injury-free Alberta in which to live, work, and play Mission: to reduce the societal and economic burden of injuries in Alberta by building partnerships, promoting effective strategies and sharing knowledge

3. www.findingbalancealberta.ca 3

4. The Beginning…. • On Solid Ground Falls Prevention Conference 2006 • Establishment of the Alberta Seniors’ Falls Prevention Network 2007

5. Alberta Seniors’ Falls Prevention Network = Information Sharing Falls resources Alberta update Upcoming events/educational opportunities From the literature Members’ corner Teleconferences

7. Prevention (Community) Prevention (Acute) Prevention (Residential Care) Prevention (Home Care) Prevention (General) Staff Capacity Building Exercises Medication Health Management Risk Assessment Tools Risk Factors Miscellaneous • What’s in the Literature?

8. Falls Data and Resources

9. Promotion of the Network Word of Mouth Education sessions CFPC Finding Balance

10. Membership Work Setting November 2007 Acute Care 30 Continuing 25 Care 20 Rehabilitation 15 Injury Prevention 10 Health Promotion 5 Other 0

11. Membership Work Setting September 2009

12. Membership Survey September 2009

13. Membership Survey September 2009

14. Membership Survey September 2009

15. Overall, how would you rate the usefulness of the Alberta Seniors' Falls Prevention Network? 51.8% 42.9% 5.4% 0.0% Poor Fair Good Excellent Membership Survey September 2009

16. ‘Ideal’ Alberta Network Overarching framework /Clearinghouse/ Information Bank for communication, resources, standardized tools, educational materials, consistent messaging, best practice Public Awareness / Social Marketing campaign Central website for public and professionals Advocacy / Lobby for project dollars

17. Lessons Learned/Future Direction Continue to grow the membership Develop closer relationships with champions/professional associations Enhance two way exchange of information Face to face meeting/planning sessions Explore establishment of communities of practice Support the development of a provincial falls prevention strategy

19. Partnership • Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research • Alberta Medical Association • Alberta Health and Wellness • Additional sponsors • Alberta Physiotherapy Association • Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association • Alberta Blue Cross • Canadian Patient Safety • College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta • College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Albertan • CARNA • Global TV • McCallum Printing Group

20. Advisory Committee • AB Chapter Dietitians of Canada • Osteoporosis Centres and AB Chapter • Seniors/ Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton • Health Link Alberta • Primary Care Networks • AB Seniors and Community Supports • AB Fitness Leaders 20 • Representatives from 9 former Health Regions • AB Pharmacists’ Association • AB College of Physiotherapists • College & Association of RN of Alberta • AB Centre for Active Living • AB College of Occupational Therapists • AB Therapeutic Recreation Association

21. Campaign values • Multiyear campaign • Evidence-based consistent messaging • Connect seniors to local supports/programs • Stakeholder support and participation • Evaluation

22. Campaign elements • Strategic provincial communications plan • Proclamation of Seniors’ Falls Prevention Month • Purchased and earned media • Information posters and flyers • Campaign website • Local Communications Support • Spokespeople • Presentations • Displays

23. Key messages

24. New message

25. Website www.findingbalancealberta.ca

26. InformAlberta

27. Practitioner page • Finding Balance Falls Prevention Network • Finding Balance Tool Kit • Resources – campaign and falls • Sample proclamations • Falls prevention articles • Media relations • Local activities/Setting up a display • Presentations • Practitioner Algorithms • Algorithm for Primary Care Physicians • Multidisciplinary Algorithm

28. Algorithm

29. Algorithm

30. Algorithm

31. Algorithm

32. Campaign Results 2010 • An increase in: • proportion of seniors recalling the campaign was about the prevention of falls • (39% in 2010 vs.16% 2009) • proportion of seniors who are concerned (55% in 2010 vs. 45% in 2008) or very concerned (27% in 2010 vs. 17% in 2008) about having a fall • Seniors still more concerned about friend or family member having a bad fall instead of themselves having a bad fall (74% vs. 55%)

33. Campaign Results 2010 • An increase in: • those reported the leading cause of injury hospitalizations was due to falls • (59% in 2010 vs. 44% in 2008) • those that reported they are currently taking measures to prevent falls • (72% in 2010 vs. 54% in 2008) • those reporting ‘keep active’ as a key way to reduce the risk of falls • (29% in 2010 vs.17% in 2008) • those reporting they review their medications annually (72% in 2010 vs. 59% in 2008)

34. Campaign results 2010 • Municipal proclamations • 156 communities (138 communities in 2009) • Earned media stories • 31 stories (75 stories in 2009) • Bought media • $2.54 for every dollar spent ($2.05 in 2009) • Website • 982 visits, 2:46 average time (1104 visits, 2:52 time)

35. Lessons Learned/Future Directions • Partnership with AMA strengthened profile and credibility • Timing was right • Can’t control the media and uptake • Ongoing relationship building and new partnerships • Sponsorship • Telephone vs. Online survey • Expand outside Alberta

36. Community Injury Control FundProjects • Coordinated by ACICR • Grants from $4000 - $15,000 • Funded 34 falls prevention programs • Preventing Falls Through Physical Activity: A Guide for People Working with Older Adults • A Million Messages • Pre-Hospital Management of the Senior Falls Patient

37. www.active.living@ualberta.ca 37

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40. A Million Messages 40

41. A Million Messages 41

42. 42 EMS Falls Prevention Project Goal = increase seniors’ access and utilization of existing fall prevention programs/resources • Establish a referral network that would accept referrals from paramedics • Identify ‘at-risk’ fallers using a standardized process • Refer seniors who are at risk of a fall or who had fallen

43. 43 “It takes a village of stakeholders working together to prevent falls and fall risk, tasks that no one stakeholder can accomplish alone.” Ganz, Alkema & Wu, 2008

44. Questions?? lynda.mcphee@ualberta.ca 44