Ynys Môn Health Alliance and Communities First ‘Sloppy Slippers’ Falls Prevention Project Mary Sillitoe Communities First Coordinator

Safer Holyhead Group Staff from 3 Communities First Partnerships in Holyhead UK – 2.7 million accidents in the home UK – 1 million due to falls People over 65 account for over half of serious cases

Fractures caused by falls in the home Cost to individual – loss of independence etc UK – hip fractures cost NHS £1.8 billion Extrinsic and intrinsic factors Using extrinsic factor (poor footwear) to capture intrinsic factors ( self assessment questionnaire provided by National Primary Care Development Team)

Making it Work Targeting 65 years and over Ageing population on the Island Overcoming data protection issues Initial funding from Communities First and Communities First Trust Fund

Working in Partnership LA’s Environmental Health Section invited to assist Collaboration with LHB and Surgeries Letters from LHB Posted from surgeries to all registered within this age group

Other Agencies invited LA Departments Police / Community Safety Fire Service Care and Repair Optician Chiropodist Alternative Health Therapist Advice services Dietician

How it Worked Citizens attended with their letter and old pair of slippers Given card and questionnaire Asked to visit at least 3 stands Stamp for each stand visited Exchanged card for new pair of slippers

Added Value Questionnaires identified those most at risk Able to register for home fire safety checks Home security checks Referrals to social services or appropriate agency

Ynys Môn Health Alliance Adopted the project Secured funding Developed it further Detailed database for q’aires Extended across Ynys Môn

Some of the Outcomes HolyheadLlangefni Attended Had slipped in own home44.5%42% Had no smoke alarm15%10.2% Referrals to Fire Service Referrals to Care & Repair6950

Evaluation Analysis of database Referrals to agencies / social services Cost of event vs. cost of emergency services & NHS treatment

Further Outcomes Multi-agency collaboration High profile events Initial CF project that benefited the wider community ALARM Award Winner (National Public Sector Risk Management Awards)

Future Direction Sloppy Slippers led to the formation of a Multiagency Falls Prevention Group 9 month Falls Prevention Pilot Study now underway in North Anglesey, using basic community screening tool with referral for in-depth multifactorial risk assessment if required