647 Implementing an evidence based falls prevention programme in Care Homes in the UK and other countries

Background Older people living in long term care facilities are as likely to fall and injure themselves with devastating outcomes as people living at home. Action Falls, a multi-factorial programme has been shown to reduce falls by 43% and is cost effective in the UK. It has been recommended by the UK government for routine use. Objectives To explore and document the core components needed for successful routine implementation of Action Falls in care facilities and monitor spread across the globe. Method 60 older people care facilities were recruited across the UK. Staff in all homes were trained to use Action Falls. Normalisation Process Theory was used to aid implementation of Action Falls. The Normalisation MeAsure Development (NoMAD) questionnaire, interviews and focus groups were used to collect data. Falls rates were recorded before and after implementation. A record was kept of Action Falls programme resources sent to interested groups across the world. Results 638 NoMAd questionnaires were returned. 39 interviews and 3 focus groups with care home staff and falls leads were completed. 176 resource packs were sent to 156 organisations in 9 countries. The core components for routine use of Action Falls is that Action Falls must be embedded in care facilities software platforms or in paper records. Care staff, cleaners, caretakers, cooks families and volunteers value face-to-face Action Falls training and can use the techniques learnt. Support from a local Falls Champion was vital to the sustainability. Falls prevention and recording needs to be everybody's business and falls need to be spoken about freely. Training to use Action falls is essential, just sending the information is not enough. Moving from existing falls prevention policies to using Action Falls requires investment at all levels. Conclusion Action Falls can be implemented in long term care facilities in the UK. There appears to be interest in using the programme from other countries and as the intervention is provided by carers, families and volunteers we consider it might be appropriate for wide spread use. In this presentation we will describe Action Falls and consider how it can be used in different communities.