Fall-related injuries in aged care account for one-fifth of the cost of a resident’s care, according to new research.
The University of Queensland study found that fall-related injuries in residential aged care could be costing the health system $325 million annually.
The study found fall injuries accounted for 20% of annual expenditure on an aged care resident between 2021-2022.
“Falls pose a significant financial burden but despite efforts to address the issue over the years, falls continue to remain a significant problem,” said lead researcher Dr Charles Okafor, from UQ’s Centre for Health Services Research.
The study involved 303 people aged over 65 in aged care facilities in New South Wales and Western Australia. The average cost of a fall resulting in injury was around $2,500 dollars.
“A total of 281 residents had falls, but only 119 of the residents had fall injuries, so the potential cost of fall injuries to Australia’s health care system was $325 million dollars a year,” said lead researcher Dr Charles Okafor.
Body mass index (BMI) and gender were the two major factors linked to a high falls risk, the research found.
“We found male residents were twice as likely to suffer a fall related injury and those with a normal BMI were also at higher risk,” Dr Okafor said.
“Residents with a normal BMI are possibly more independent and not as closely monitored as those who could be overweight or underweight and less mobile.
“The falls risk profile is completely different for those living in the community which means we need different approaches for different populations.”
While a national prevention strategy is in place through the Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society, more was needed to create a strategy specifically catering to aged care residents, Dr Okafor said.
Successful examples such as the National Ageing Research Institute’s falls prevention in residential aged care workshops could be used as models for implementation nationwide. “This could come about by liaising with stakeholders to find out what the training needs of aged care staff are, the challenges they’re facing, and what could minimise costs,” he said.
The research is published in international medical journal BMJ.
