Falls prevention in hospital: a guide for patients, their families and carers (reviewed in September 2022) has been designed to help prevent serious injury and unnecessary cost to the NHS caused by older people tripping or falling when they are in hospital.
This guide provides jargon free information on the care patients can expect to receive in hospital, as well as advice on how to be alert to potential dangers and what to do to avoid them. It sets out a check list of simple measures that, when undertaken, can minimise the risk of falling or tripping.
Advice in the checklist includes:
- Tips on exercises to improve circulation when getting out of bed or before standing
- How to use walking aids in hospital safely
- Ensuring the bedside environment is uncluttered and vision glasses and walking aids are to hand when standing.
Falls prevention in hospital: a guide for patients, their families and carers, is available to download.
Contact falls@rcp.ac.uk for more information.