Info chain approach
Municipalities in the Netherlands are responsible for establishing the Chain Approach Fall Prevention for their residents aged 65 and older who are at risk of falling. This responsibility is outlined in both the Integral Care Agreement (IZA) and the Healthy and Active Life Agreement (GALA). To implement the agreements within the GALA, municipalities receive financial resources through the Specific Grant (SPUK).
How does the chain approach work?
The Chain Approach consists of several steps. Smart Floor can provide support at multiple steps.
Detect
With the Fall Risk Test, Smart Floor offers a quick, objective measurement of the fall risk to detect elderly individuals with an increased or high fall risk. Home-dwelling 65-year-olds can visit a location where the Smart Floor is available (such as a community center, physiotherapy practice or Vitality day) and have their fall risk predicted in just a few minutes.
Given the multifactorial causes that falls can have, it is important to have an overview of the follow-up steps of the chain.
Evaluate
Use Smart Floor as an evaluation tool after an intervention, such as a fall prevention course, exercise program, regular sports offerings or individual physiotherapy. By conducting inital and final measurements, the effect of the intervention can be assessed. This provides the elderly an objective insight into their progress and serves as motivation.
Monitor (periodic measurements)
By performing periodic measurements with Smart Floor, a personal dossier can be developed over time. A graph displaying these measurements provides insight into the progression of fall risk, facilitating that a suitable intervention can be initiated in time or further research can be done.
Who are the chain partners
Community sports coaches, movement professionals, welfare workers and physiotherapists are examples of municipal chain partners in the Fall Prevention Chain Approach. These chain partners use the mobile Smart Floor during events such as Vitality or Fit days in community centers, sports facilities and physiotherapy practices.
Tools for chain partners
Below you will find the downloads that chain partners can use to support the fall prevention chain approach.