Abstract Introduction The risk of future falls in frail older adults who have fallen once remains high. Therefore, falls harm mitigation strategies are important for falls patients admitted to acute geriatric medicine care. How often Assistive Technology (AT) is offered in this regard is not known. Method A two-part Service Evaluation, Information Governance department approved. 1. Case note audit. Patients admitted to our department with a fall between 1st Sept—30th Nov 2024. 2. 10 patient questionnaires about AT, completed during admission for a fall (May 2025). Results Audit—112 returned cases, after exclusions, 81 included (4—national data opt out, 16—fall not primary complaint, 1—not under geriatrician, 10—not admitted). Female 47/81 (58%). Average age 87, average Clinical Frailty Score 5.7. Dementia diagnosis prior to admission—24 (30%). Previous fall related admission 26 (32%). Documented ‘has’ falls AT already—25 (30%) and ‘does not have’—10 (17%). No documentation on presence/absence of AT in 46 (57%) of cases. Onward referral for AT by Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist in 35 (43%). Referral declined 2 (2%). Questionnaire—Average age—84. Female—4 (40%). 6 had previous fall warranting admission. 7 had existing AT. 2 used pendant during this fall, 4 weren’t wearing it, 1—family were present. Use of AT/family present associated with shorter waiting time for assistance (2.5 vs 4.1 hrs). 7 said they would ‘definitely use’ AT in the future. 7 said they would ‘feel safer’ with AT at home. Conclusion Existing use of AT for falls is prevalent but not reliably documented at hospital admission. A high percentage of eligible patients are offered future AT. Patients who use AT have shorter waits for emergency assistance. Patients are generally receptive to the idea of using AT after a falls admission.
Crudge et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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