We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest title – the Level 2 Certificate in Falls Prevention Awareness (QRN: 603/2552/5).
This exciting new qualification has been a joint development between ourselves and the awarding organisation NCFE CACHE. A little over a year ago we sat down with NCFE CACHE to begin work on creating a business case for this qualification and to subsequently devise a fit for purpose syllabus. Surprisingly, despite the importance of falls awareness and the number of older people who fall each year, there was and is no other nationally accredited qualification in the subject at level 2. All the hard work has paid off, and we believe this new qualification and Hallmark’s accompanying learning resource will make a significant difference by enabling those who support older people, whether in a personal or professional capacity, to become more ‘falls aware’.
Why is an awareness of falls so important?
If you were in any doubt about how important a course like this is, the startling national statistics below reveal how serious a problem the issue of falls is.
- One-third of people aged 65-plus (3.4 million people) and half of those aged 80-plus will fall at least once a year.
- Half of people who fall will do so again within the next 12 months.
- In around 6 per cent of cases a fall leads to fracture and hospitalisation.
- Up to 14,000 people die every year in the UK as a result of an osteoporotic hip fracture and its complications (one of the most serious falls-related injuries in older people).
- Every year, over 500,000 people over the age of 65 attend UK emergency departments following a fall.
- Falls and fractures in this age group account for over 4 million hospital bed days each year.
- Falls cost the NHS £2.3 billion per year.
- After a fall, an older person has a 50 per cent probability of having their mobility seriously impaired and a 10 per cent probability of dying within a year.
- In addition to the physical and economic aspects, falls can also have serious psychological and social consequences too. Falls destroy confidence, increase isolation and reduce independence, with around 1 in 10 older people who fall becoming afraid to leave their homes in case they fall again.
The reassuring news is that many falls are preventable with the right support and interventions in place. Hallmark’s learning resource aims to increase learners’ knowledge and understanding of falls. Learners will explore the common causes of falls and the factors, both personal and environmental, which increase the likelihood of an individual falling. Learners will then examine a wide range of strategies that they and/or care organisations can take to prevent falls.
For more information about this brand new qualification, please get in touch via our contact us page.
To view the NCFE CACHE Qualification Specification and other information, please click here.
The Falls Prevention Awareness qualification has been confirmed for both Adult Skills (AEB) and ESF funding. To view confirmation on The Hub, please click here.