Safe at Home: Using Support at Home and Physiotherapy to Prevent Falls
In this episode, we welcome back expert pain physiotherapist Meghan Dean to mark Falls Prevention Awareness Month. We explore the critical role of proactive physiotherapy within the Support at Home program and how a multisdisciplinary approach ensures older Australians can remain safe and independent in their own environments.
Key Findings
Hidden Fall Risks: Falls are influenced by a complex mix of cognitive, physical, and environmental factors. Beyond obvious hazards, things like medication load, vision, and "near-miss" stumbles, where someone loses their balance but doesn't actually hit the ground, are vital warning signs.
The Power of Reablement: A major shift in the Support at Home program is the move toward reablement. Rather than just "supporting" a person as they decline, this approach focuses on improving their capacity to perform daily activities like showering, dressing, or gardening independently.
Physio vs. OT: While Occupational Therapists often focus on home modifications and assistive technology, physiotherapists assess the "musculoskeletal" factors. They look at pain, strength, and flexibility to enhance the person’s actual physical capacity to move safely.
The Multisdisciplinary Approach: Real progress happens when clinicians collaborate. A multisdisciplinary team, including physiotherapists, OTs, and carers, works together to preempt issues before they happen, providing a "gold standard" of proactive care.
Funding and Access: Clinical services like physiotherapy are available under Support at Home packages. A significant positive for our community is that these clinical services are often provided without a co-contribution from the client, provided they are identified in a clinical assessment.
Learn more about fall prevention month through the following links:
Falls Prevention Awareness month - https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/news-publications/clinical-alerts-and-advice/falls-awareness-month
April Falls - https://fallsnetwork.neura.edu.au/aprilfalls2026/