RESPOND receives funding from the Department of Health

With over 83,000 Australians aged 65 and over hospitalised following falls in 2010, a new program−The RESPOND Program−aims to connect patients with proven fall-prevention measures and reduce the strain on the health system.

The RESPOND project, led by Dr Anna Barker from the Health Services Research Unit and involving health partners across Victoria and Western Australia, has received an NHMRC partnership grants to test an innovative post-ED discharge program designed to reduce secondary falls in older people. The RESPOND project includes 16 investigators from across Australia and the UK and 12 partner organisations. It extends current falls prevention research and practice by incorporating patient-centred education with behaviour change strategies proven to be effective in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events.
A key component of the RESPOND program is the delivery of the intervention by health professionals—the RESPOND clinicians. These clinicians will be experienced in falls prevention practices, motivational interviewing and behaviour change strategies. As one of the funding partners for this project, the Victorian Department of Health has provided funding to support the RESPOND intervention delivery in Victoria.

In addition to the delivery of the RESPOND intervention, a key activity of the Victorian RESPOND clinicians will be to undertake several knowledge translation activities at the completion of the project. These activities will aim to improve the outcomes of older fallers by sharing knowledge generated from this project with front-line clinicians and health services involved in the care of older people. Funding from the Victorian Department of Health will enable clinicians from Victorian Public Health services to attend these activities free of charge.