News

Patient Experience Week, April 28 to May 2, 2025, celebrates all of the individuals who have a positive impact on the patient experience. The week also highlights the dedication of healthcare professionals in improving care outcomes through compassionate, patient-centred practices.

VON is committed to continually improving the safety and wellbeing of our clients. One example is a recent fall prevention initiative that used data analysis and consultation with staff and client and family advisors to create strategies to prevent falls and enhance the overall care experience in the communities we serve.

Falls represent a significant challenge in home and community care settings, causing physical, emotional and psychological harm to clients, families and staff. According to a Government of Canada surveillance report on falls among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and injury deaths among people aged 65 or older. Injuries from falls reduce quality of life, increase caregiver demands and precipitate admissions into long-term care.

VON’s Client and Family Engagement and Practice Quality and Risk teams together undertook an in-depth review of falls that occurred from April to June, 2024, examining 559 fall events reported across Ontario and Nova Scotia clients. “Our goal was to better understand the causes and contexts of these falls and design personalized interventions to reduce risk,” explains Dr. Cindy MacQuarrie, Chief Nursing Officer, Practice, Quality and Client Safety.

Using client experience surveys, event reporting systems and client relations feedback, the team employed qualitative data analysis software (NVivo) to identify trends and key insights.

“Our findings revealed several common themes,” says Arshia Ali, Director of Client and Family Engagement. “The majority of falls were unwitnessed, meaning that no one was present at the time of the incident to intervene. And most falls occurred in bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens, with a common scenario being a loss of balance during transfers or movement.”

The falls were influenced by both intrinsic factors (e.g., physical and mental health challenges, medications and issues with coordination and strength) and extrinsic factors (e.g., environmental hazards such as clutter, poor lighting, stairs and slopes).

Creating client personas: A people-centred approach

By analyzing identified patterns, the team was able to create diverse client personas capturing combinations of health conditions, living environments and equity needs that influence fall risk. Each persona was assessed by various stakeholders, including clients, families, staff and organizational leaders.

“This collaborative approach allowed us to tailor fall prevention strategies to the real-world experiences and needs of the individuals we serve,” says Dr. MacQuarrie. “It also helped identify barriers to safety and highlight the advocacy work needed within the home and community care sector to support the implementation of systemic, upstream solutions.”

A multifaceted solution to preventing falls

Analysis confirmed that reducing the risk of falls in home and community care settings requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach. VON’s key findings point to several areas of focus:

• Assessment and screening: Regularly assessing clients for fall risks and implementing targeted screenings.
• Physical health interventions: Addressing balance, strength and coordination challenges through physical therapy and other health services.
• Environmental modifications: Ensuring that living spaces are safe by removing clutter, improving lighting and ensuring that assistive devices are functional.
• Behavioural and educational strategies: Teaching clients and their families how to safely navigate their environments and perform daily activities.
• Social and psychological support: Providing emotional and psychological support to clients, as the fear of falling can significantly impact quality of life.
• Technology and monitoring: Leveraging technology to monitor client movement and send alerts when falls are imminent or occur.
• Community-based programs: Engaging clients in local fall prevention initiatives that foster social connections and support.

“With this holistic approach, we hope to promote overall safety and wellbeing of our clients and families in their homes and communities,” says Dr. MacQuarrie. “The insights are informing the development and implementation of client-centred fall prevention strategies across Ontario and Nova Scotia.”