Supportive measures, assessments keep residents on their feet
Thursday January 10, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
Like any other aspect of safety in an OMNI long-term care home, supportive measures plays a major role when it comes to preventing resident falls, says Mary Lynn Lester, director of care at West Lake Terrace.

“Supportive measures is an integral part of everything to do with falls prevention,” explains Lester. “By utilizing supportive measures you can sometimes intervene on situations and keep (residents) as well-orientated to (their) surroundings as possible.”

In an effort to make the Picton long-term care home as safe as possible for the home’s 47 residents, staff members pay close attention to many factors affecting safety. This means taking note of everything from residents’ behaviour to their medical needs.

It also means making sure residents are wearing proper footwear. Often, says Lester, residents are provided with backless slippers from their families to wear around the home. However, while these slippers may be easy to get on and off residents’ feet, they also pose a major safety hazard.

Along with these supportive measures, Lester notes the importance of continuously assessing residents to determine their risk of falling. Because a resident’s physical status can change in a very short period of time, these assessments are vital when it comes to falls prevention.

“(Abilities) sometimes vary from shift to shift,” says Lester. “Shift-by-shift assessments are really important. And that’s part of supportive measures, too — knowing the residents well.”

For example, the home’s restorative care staff recently noticed that some residents were finding it difficult to walk to dinner in the evenings after being on their feet for much of the day.

“We’re finding that by the time supper comes along, some of these people can’t walk without assistance,” says Lester. “In the morning, they’re great. Lunch, they’re good. But by evening, they’re tired. That third walk of the day is a little too much.”

According to Statistics Canada, falls account for two-thirds of injuries which limit mobility and activities for Canadians. Nearly 14,000 Canadians die as the result of falls every year.