High cost of fall-related injuries in aged care
Friday, 17 January, 2025
New research from The University of Queensland (UQ) has found that fall-related injuries in Australian residential aged care facilities could cost our health system $325 million annually.
鈥淲e monitored 303 people aged over 65 in aged care facilities in New South Wales and Western Australia, and found the average cost of a fall resulting in injury was around $2500,鈥� said Dr Charles Okafor, from UQ鈥檚 .
鈥淎 total of 281 residents had falls, but only 119 of the residents had fall injuries, so the potential cost of fall injuries to Australia鈥檚 healthcare system was $325 million a year.鈥�
Okafor said the study found fall injuries accounted for 20% of annual expenditure on an aged care resident between 2021 and 2022.
鈥淔alls pose a significant financial burden, but despite efforts to address the issue over the years, falls continue to remain a significant problem,鈥� he said.
Body mass index (BMI) and gender were found to be the two major factors linked to a high falls risk.
鈥淲e found male residents were twice as likely to suffer a fall-related injury and those with a normal BMI were also at higher risk,鈥� Okafor said.
鈥淩esidents with a normal BMI are possibly more independent and not as closely monitored as those who could be overweight or underweight and less mobile,鈥� he explained.
Okafor said that, while a national prevention strategy is in place via the , more is needed to create a strategy specifically catering to aged care residents.
鈥淭he falls risk profile is completely different for those living in the community, which means we need different approaches for different populations.
鈥淪uccessful examples like the National Ageing Research Institute鈥檚 falls prevention in residential aged care workshops could be used as models for implementation nationwide,鈥� Okafor added.
鈥淭his could come about by liaising with stakeholders to find out what the training needs of aged care staff are, the challenges they鈥檙e facing, and what could minimise costs.鈥�
The research in Injury Prevention.
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