Falls Response Unit

If they fall. We’re on our way.

For many senior members living alone in our community, something as simple as a fall, could be the beginning of a horrific ordeal.

Imagine a scenario: Someone you love falls at home. They’re in an awkward position, or simply don’t have the strength to get up. They’re immobilised. They feel vulnerable, disorientated and scared.

Everything stops. Everything is quiet. It’s a terrifying thought, isn’t it?

The LIVES’ ‘Falls Response Unit’ meets a fundamental need for older members of society who suffer a debilitating injury at home; to know someone is there. We’re on call to get to those low injury, yet potentially life changing events fast. We’re there to ensure our elderly residents are never left alone for a second longer than necessary, following a fall that leaves them incapacitated.

Providing wraparound care

When an elderly person falls, their needs potentially go way beyond treatment of an initial injury. That’s why, when the call comes in, one of our Falls Responders will be on the scene quickly, to:

• Conduct an initial patient assessment and help to remobilise.
• Provide early treatment to avoid permanent damage.
• Determine clinical need and refer for appropriate treatment.
• Undertake a ‘frailty assessment’, to determine if occupational health interventions are required and arrange short term care packages, where appropriate.
• Look beyond the initial 999 call made, take time to identify any social care concerns and try to make sure preventative measures are in place to minimise the chance of them falling again in the future.

At the end of the day, we’re there to meet an immediate medical emergency need, but we’re also there to meet a very human need too. Maybe that’s as simple as popping the kettle on once the patient is comfortable and sitting with them for a while. Maybe it’s providing practical help, such as moving their bed to ensure they have an accessible place to rest and recover.

That’s the ‘Falls Response Unit’. That’s what we do.