Kurri Hospital’s assessment and rehabilitation unit didn’t let the April floods stop it completely, holding its belated April Falls Prevention day last Thursday.
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Better late than never, the day was re-named ‘Christmas Falls in July’ and doubled as an open day for the public to check out the 18-month-old space.
The unit was decorated in orange, the signature colour of falls prevention, and a sausage sizzle was enjoyed by members of the public, patients and staff from throughout the hospital.
Fall prevention activities included a medi-check station measuring people’s blood pressure, weight, height and body mass index, a small circuit in the gym, a film screen about staying active and falls-free and information on resources and services available in the local area.
Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, social workers, nurses and other medical staff were also on hand on the day to answer questions.
Unit manager Chris Bartho-Brown said the aim was to provide people with information to try to reduce falls and hospitalisation through pre-emptive methods.
“It’s a really good way of preventing hospital stays,” she said.
“To keep people well at home and prevent deterioration.”
The 14-bed unit is still fairly new, and Ms. Bartho-Brown said it was a good opportunity for people to come and see it for the first time.
“It’s to give the public an idea of what we do and where we are,” she said.
The unit has also just commenced work to expand to add another 12 beds and amalgamate with Maitland’s rehabilitation facility by August 2016.
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For more information about falls prevention, click here.