Working together for you
By joining forces we share information and unite the falls and fractures system so older people can stay stronger for longer, in their own homes. This is going to make a real difference for older New Zealanders.
ACC, the Ministry of Health, Health Quality & Safety Commission, DHBs, GPs, health professionals, home carers and community groups, all deliver services to older people. By working together we'll better coordinate our efforts and create a system that is easy to use and helps to reduce the incidence and severity of falls and fractures.
A new way of working
We’re building partnerships at national and local health system level. This includes District Health Boards (DHBs), Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and a shared commitment to developing innovative and improved services within the health system for older people.
We’re also working with new and existing providers to:
- co-design and deliver new models of care
- identify people at risk of a fall or fracture
- target interventions that are known to have a significant impact in terms of future risk.
We’re creating and testing new funding approaches to redesign pathways for older people that reflect the whole patient journey, rather than individual episodes of care. And we’re measuring outcomes collectively.
In-home strength and balance programmes
Description
Clinician led strength and balance exercise targeted at highest risk population of people 75 years and over who can't attend group based community programmes.
Evidence of benefit
Reduced falls by 36 percent 1, 2.
Group based community strength and balance programmes
Description
Group based strength and balance exercise targeted at younger less frail population over 65 years and over.
Evidence of benefit
Reduced falls by 29 percent 3, 4.
Fracture Liaison Services (FLS)
Description
FLS is a capability where older people with a fragility fracture are identified, treated for osteoporosis, and referred to strength and balance programmes.
Evidence of benefit
Osteoporosis medication: 28% risk reduction for subsequent fractures in those identified with osteoporosis 5.
In-home strength and balance programmes
Description
Clinician led strength and balance exercise targeted at highest risk population of people 75 years and over who can't attend group based community programmes.
Evidence of benefit
Reduced falls by 36 percent 1, 2.
Group based community strength and balance programmes
Description
Group based strength and balance exercise targeted at younger less frail population over 65 years and over.
Evidence of benefit
Reduced falls by 29 percent 3, 4.
Fracture Liaison Services (FLS)
Description
FLS is a capability where older people with a fragility fracture are identified, treated for osteoporosis, and referred to strength and balance programmes.
Evidence of benefit
Osteoporosis medication: 28% risk reduction for subsequent fractures in those identified with osteoporosis 5.
1See Topic 9 - Improving strength and balance to prevent falls
2Gillespie LD, Robertson MC, Gillespie WJ et al. 2012. An intervention for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (9): CD007146.
3See Topic 9 - Improving strength and balance to prevent falls
4Gillespie LD, Robertson MC, Gillespie WJ et al. 2012. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (9): CD007146.
5Harpreet S. Bawa, MD, Jack Weick, BS, and Douglas R. Dirschl, MD: Anti-Osteoporotic Therapy After Fragility Fracture Lowers Rate of Subsequent Fracture Analysis of a Large Population Sample. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2015.
