Remote allied health pilot targets falls
In an attempt to reduce falls risks for older people living at home, Bolton Clarke has expanded its virtual care pilot to provide telehealth access to physiotherapy services – with the support of a trained personal care worker.
As April No Falls Month comes to an end, Bolton Clarke has expanded its virtual model of care pilot to cover physiotherapy services and expressions of interest are being sought from older people in the Bundaberg region.
The expansion follows the initial trial of virtual care for older occupational therapy clients in North Queensland communities and aims to reduce frailty and the risk of falls for older people living at home.
Bolton Clarke Research Institute Senior Research Fellow Dr Claudia Meyer said interacting through a screen has typically been a barrier to effective telehealth delivery of occupational therapy and physiotherapy services for older people.
“This program addresses that by using personal care workers who have received specific training to support the sessions,” she said.
“One of the benefits, particularly in regional areas where access to allied health services can be more difficult, is that clients can access appointments fairly quickly. This means their needs can be addressed more responsively, improving opportunities for positive outcomes.”
About 30 clients were enrolled across Cairns and Townsville for the occupational therapy pilot last year, with a Melbourne-based occupational therapist connecting with them in virtual visits to shop for and test assistive devices to help them stay independent at home.
The program builds on previous work by the independent, not-for-profit aged care provider to address frailty and falls for clients living alone – including the By Your Side program – and additional training is being rolled out for more personal care workers and frontline teams to support the expansion of the services.
For information about participation email hello@boltonclarke.com.au.
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