ACHA Publication: Implementing the Action Falls Program Into Care Homes in England (the FinCH Imp Study)

Falls are a major cause of injury, hospital admission, and loss of independence for people living in care homes. This study looked at how easily an evidence‑based falls prevention programme, called Action Falls, could be put into everyday use in care homes across England. Action Falls involves a simple checklist to identify fall risks, staff training, and ongoing support.

The researchers worked with 60 care homes over a year. Around 60% of staff received training, and most homes stayed engaged throughout the study. Staff who were trained felt more confident using the programme and saw falls prevention as an important part of their role. However, challenges included staff turnover, lack of time for training, and difficulty fitting the checklist into existing digital care records. The average cost of training was relatively low (£332 per home), and most homes successfully shared falls data.

Overall the study, supported by ACHA Professor Adam Gordon, shows that Action Falls can be implemented in care homes, but ongoing support, digital integration, and policy backing are essential for success.