Author(s)

Emily Lile & Gaby Bednarek

Affiliations

Easter Health

Introduction

Falls in older adults admitted to psychiatric inpatient wards are at least 4 times as common as amongst those in other acute wards. This is due to changes in acute mental state and altered cognitive function together with side effects from medications such as drowsiness, postural hypotension, changes in continence and extrapyramidal gait changes (Carpels et al 2022). South Ward is an older adult psychiatric unit at Eastern Health.

The multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprises of clinical and non-clinical staff working with consumers on a need’s basis. Communication of consumer’s falls risk and mobility needs are shared with the MDT using paper-based and verbal handovers, mobility charts and notes.

South Ward consumers with a high falls risk who require assistance to mobilise need ward staff to be aware of their needs to effectively reduce falls risk on the ward.

Method

To identify consumers who require physical assistance when mobilising on the ward, the ‘red dot project’ was rolled out. This included physiotherapists attaching a laminated ‘red dot’ to consumer’s gait aids, identifying those who required physical assistance with mobility in MDT handover and filling out mobility charts in consumer’s rooms. Education with the theme “Falls are everyone’s business” was undertaken at both nursing and morning handover. A survey was conducted at project commencement and 3-months post project commencement to identify staff confidence level (ranging from –5 being least confident to 5 being most confident) in identifying consumers who require physical assistance on the ward.

Results & findings

Staff confidence levels increased from –0.46 in March 2025 (32 participants) to +0.27 in June 2025 (321 participants).

Discussion

The limited change in confidence among staff members indicates further training and reminders are required. Staff have also requested training regarding ways to steady patients that comply with OH&S regulations.