The Falls and Falls Injury Prevention Program helps people who have experienced falls or are looking for ways to minimise their risk of falling, including a fear of falling.
About this service
We work with people and community groups to raise awareness on how to reduce falls in older adults.
We offer three services:
Falls and Falls Injury Prevention Clinic
The Falls and Falls Injury Prevention Clinic can assess you to identify your personal risk factors for falling.
At the clinic appointment you will be provided with individual advice, information and activities that you can complete to reduce your risk of falling.
This might include engaging in exercises, undertaking a home assessment to ensure your home is set-up safely, and referrals to other specialised health care providers.
Education activities and resources for individuals and community groups
We can come to your local community group to provide education and information about falls risk factors.
Stepping On education program
This is a free seven-week educational group program which has been shown to reduce falls in older adults by over 30%.
During the program you will receive education to help identify your own falls risks and then discuss strategies you can put in place to reduce these risks.
The group runs four times per year, twice on the northside and twice on the southside of Canberra.
Who we care for
Our services are available for:
- people over the age of 65 years, or 50 years for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- younger people who have experienced multiple falls.
This program is free for Medicare or Asylum Seeker Card Holders
How to access this service
You can refer yourself to this program by calling the Central Health Intake on (02) 5124 9977.
You can also get a referral from your GP or your medical or Allied health practitioner.
What to expect
We will write to you or call you to confirm your appointment time. We will also send you some documents to complete and bring with you to your appointment.
Your clinic assessment will take about two hours and you will be seen by a Nurse, a Physiotherapist and a Dietician who will assess your falls risk factors.
We will discuss a treatment plan with you which is likely to include undertaking some exercises and discussing some things you can do to reduce your falls risk.
We will provide you and your GP with a list of the recommendations and treatment plan that we make.
We’ll assess whether you would benefit from an assessment of falls risks in your home. If appropriate, an Occupational Therapist will then be in touch to complete an assessment and help with any changes that might benefit you.
What to bring to your appointment
- Medicare card
- we will send you some documents prior to your appointment to collect some information that we ask you to bring back to your appointment.
Where we’re located
- Tuggeranong Community Health Centre holds a Friday clinic
- University of Canberra Hospital holds a Tuesday clinic.
Information for referrers
Please see Community HealthPathways for detailed referral criteria and information.
Referral options:
- Phone: (02) 5124 9977
- Acute phone: (02) 5124 0200 (specialty/program office)
- Fax: (02) 5124 1082
- SmartForm.