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 Thank you for the opportunity..Thank you for the opportunity..

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

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

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

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

20. Advisory Committee 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

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

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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

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. �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