Digital falls prevention tool moves step further
A digital platform designed to help those at risk of falling has received funding to move into a trial phase.
The No Need To Fall project has been co-designed by people with lived experience of falls, and the health and care staff who support them.
Its effectiveness is currently being researched as part of a trial with 20 patients in Lanarkshire, in the hope it can eventually be rolled out further across the West of Scotland and nationally.
The platform is being supported by the Health Foundation in the third phase of its trial, with earlier stages finding that many older people view falls as an inevitable part of ageing and often blame themselves when they occur.
The project, which started in September 2023 and will run until the end of the year, explores how technology can be used to address and improve people’s daily care and support needs, and the response if and when there is an incident.
No Need To Fall is being managed through the West of Scotland Innovation Hub (WoSIH), which is hosted by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in partnership with West of Scotland health boards in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway and Forth Valley.
During phase three, a digital space will be provided for people to have information about themselves stored in ways that are secure and only they control in a Personal Data Store.
Information will include their circle of care, preferences, values and emergency contacts, and the individual can then decide whether to share parts or all of the information with the teams they interact with.
They will also be provided with a website which gives personalised community support and guidance.
The aim of the model is to help people better co-manage their health and care and to access support that allows them to stay well, and No Need To Fall also enables appropriate responses in the event of a fall.
Dr Ana Talbot, WoSIH Innovation Fellow for Frailty and Falls and Consultant in Older Adult Medicine with NHS Lanarkshire, is leading the project in collaboration with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships and the University of Strathclyde, as well as six local and national voluntary sector charities.
Dr Talbot said: “Our No Need To Fall project is seeking to provide a digital solution that helps to prevent falls, and is also empowering and supportive to the individual.
“As we move into phase three, we will trial a Personal Data Store to shape and tailor the support offered.
“In collaboration with partner organisations, I am pleased we are moving forward with the next stage of this project to improve outcomes for people with the highest risk of falls.”
Chaloner Chute, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, said: “This project is helping us understand how to support effective self-management for those at risk of falls.
“Digital tools will allow us to better integrate support between the person, their family and other informal or formal care and support providers.
“This should help us keep people thriving and independent in their own homes for longer and reduce pressures on strained public services.”
Professor of Digital Health and Care at the University of Strathclyde, Marilyn Lennon, said: “It is important to evaluate how people feel about using digital health tools to ensure they are accessible and usable in practice for them to be a success.
“The University of Strathclyde is leading an evaluation that will help capture what older adults and their informal carers think about the tool and also what might help make the tool work in practice to improve care for older adults."