Practical Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy support to help people move with more confidence, reduce falls risks and stay independent at home.
We work with older adults, people living with disability, families and aged care facilities across Melbourne.
An individual’s ability to walk with confidence and balance can decrease over time. This can result in falls.
There are many factors affecting why we fall, and there are many interventions that can help address them.
Physiotherapy
Strength, balance, mobility and post-fall support.
Occupational Therapy
Functional assessments and safer daily living strategies.
Home Modifications
Practical changes that can improve safety in the home environment.
Assistive Equipment
Support with selecting and using equipment that may improve mobility.
Did you know that the leading cause of hospitalisation for people over 65 is falls? At least one in four elderly people have a fall each year.
With the right help, you can reduce the falls rate for your loved ones or at your aged care facility.
The Physiotherapists at Total Health Choice have been delivering falls prevention strategies and rehabilitation since 2011.
We work with adults, older adults and people with a disability.
An appropriate time to contact us for this service would be when someone is:
We are often engaged by elderly individuals, their families, NDIS participants, facility management, Local Area Coordinators and GPs.
As we age, our ability to maintain balance can reduce. As walking characteristics change over time, balance can be compromised and people may compensate in other ways.
There are many contributing factors that can reduce balance and increase the risk of falls, including:
Falls are not only a physical risk. Some people may also feel conscious about their walking or lose confidence, which can affect outlook and socialisation.
Our dedicated Physiotherapists help reduce the risk of falls by:
Our caring Physiotherapists provide falls prevention services for individuals in private residences, specialist disability accommodation, aged care facilities and retirement homes.
Our Occupational Therapists help primarily with:
We may suggest changes to the environment such as rails for stairs, widening access in the laundry, chair lifts, bathroom modifications and simple decluttering.
The first point of contact is a referral from someone seeking assistance for an elderly loved one or facility resident. We aim to book a meeting at a mutually beneficial time.
The first conversation is an introduction so we can learn about the person’s history and gain an understanding of their condition or comorbidities.
Our professional team attends the residence to conduct an initial assessment.
We look at the environment, physical capacity such as mobility, balance and reflexes, as well as identify what assistive equipment may help. Most importantly, we ascertain the meaningful goals the person would like to achieve.
When working with vulnerable groups, such as NDIS participants and elderly patients, one thing we have learned is to listen. People want to have a voice and be listened to.
For example, many people may feel too proud to begin using a walking frame.
We respect the decisions of our patients and accommodate their requirements as best we can.
We advise evidence-based strategies that aim to support the best outcomes for health and wellbeing.
At the end of the initial assessment, we work together to develop a treatment plan focused on meaningful goals.
We also provide an end-of-month progress report to family members so they are updated about the work taking place with their loved ones. This report shows progress and outcome measures.
We are honest with our services. If we can make a difference, or if we feel therapy is no longer viable, we will advise that.
We met a lady who had previously been exposed to falls prevention strategies, but had still experienced three falls within a six-month period in her nursing home.
Her daughter engaged Total Health Choice to work with her mother, with service provided by our Physiotherapist Devana Thevanesan.
Together, they completed regular rehabilitation-based exercise therapy, strength work and falls strategies that included appropriate footwear, environmental decluttering and prescription of a more appropriate walking frame.
This improved the patient’s confidence in walking and overall quality of life. We had been working with her for over a year and, during that time, she had not had another fall.
In 2018, Total Health Choice expanded its scope of practice by employing Occupational Therapists with specialist skills in home and environmental assessments to further reduce many risk factors associated with falling.
Total Health Choice has helped form and is part of falls committees at aged care facilities.
We have introduced initiatives, including stickers on staff lanyards and staff education, to increase awareness of falls.
Yes. From an Occupational Therapy perspective, much of the work we perform is low-impact rather than structural.
Where the home modifications we suggest are structural, we are aware of the appropriate agencies and applicable legislation to manage the project.
Total Health Choice has a representative who attends the Australian Physiotherapy Conference when it is held.
In 2019, we attended the APA conference and heard from leading researchers from Monash University. A study described how people with osteoarthritis may be at an increased risk of falls.
People can experience the beginnings of osteoarthritis in their late fifties and early sixties. This is important because people with osteoarthritis do not necessarily need to be elderly to have a higher falls risk.
The conference also included information regarding strategies and exercises that may apply to people with osteoarthritis.
After the initial assessment, we agree on how many sessions per month may be appropriate to help achieve the person’s goals.
Some goals can be achieved in a relatively short time, while others may be lifelong.
For example, we may suggest three sessions per week for the first month to see what changes can be made. From there, we may reduce the frequency or stop altogether based on reassessments and the agreed goals.
When there is a positive response to Physiotherapy, we generally continue while the service is making a difference and helping achieve goals.
Contact Total Health Choice to discuss mobility, balance, home safety or a suitable falls prevention plan for an older adult, family member or resident.
