Stand Together
Click on the relevant reports, resources and publications for more information.
| Program/Project | Stand Together: Tweed Heads Community Options Falls Prevention Program |
| Period/Length | 12 week period |
| Aim | This is a small group intervention for clients to assist the older person to realistically appraise their risk of falling and provide a forum for gaining knowledge about safe practices. |
| Year | 2010 |
| Target Group | People serviced by Community Options who are over the age of 65 years, and have had a fall over the last 12months or have a fear of falling. |
| Reach | 20 participants |
| Locations | Tweed Heads |
| Partners | Tweed Heads Community Option Service |
| Funding | Community Options Tweed Heads |
| Contact | |
| Full Report | |
| Resources | |
| More Information | See below |
| Publications |
What strategies were used?
Participants explore options and barriers to putting safety strategies into practice. The aim is to facilitate the person in taking control, explore different coping behaviours, and encourage follow-through of safety strategies in everyday life.
Each group session included an education and exercise component. Participants were also provided with a simple 10 minute exercise routine to be done each day.
The Education focuses on:
- Exercise and Nutrition as we age
- Reducing Home Hazards
- Managing Continence
- Eye Health and Community Safety
- Medication Information
What were the program outcomes?
Participant post program scores on the objective measures demonstrated improvement (see table below). Participants also felt that they were able to undertake more activities of daily living without fear of falling.
These programs have met the stated objectives, and 20 participants have now been involved in the program over the last two years. Falls rates within the Tweed Heads Community Options Service have also reduced.
20 Participants |
Sit to Stand (STS) |
Near Tandem Stance (NTS) |
Activities-Specific Balance Confident Scale (ABC Scale) |
| Post Program Average % Improvement |
25% decrease in time | 33% increase in time | 33% increase in confidence |