Falls Shield Protocol: On-Site Falls Prevention Physiotherapy for Care Homes
Falls are one of the most common reasons for hospital admission from care homes, and one of the most preventable when they're addressed proactively rather than after an incident. The Falls Shield Protocol brings structured, evidence-based falls prevention physiotherapy directly into your care home, so residents are assessed and treated on-site, without the delay or disruption of an off-site appointment. It's designed to complement your existing NHS pathways, adding immediate, additional support for residents who would benefit from it.
What's Included
Each Falls Shield Protocol engagement is built around your home's residents and staff roster, and can include:
Individual assessments of each resident's falls risk, carried out on site by a Chartered Physiotherapist.
Home exercise programmes based on the Otago approach, tailored to each resident's ability and goals.
Group balance and falls prevention classes, run on site to build strength and confidence.
Clinical education sessions for care staff, covering practical falls prevention techniques.
CQC aligned outcome documentation, supporting your Safe and Effective domain evidence.
Ongoing progress tracking, with outcomes reviewed and reported throughout your engagement, not just at a single visit.
Flexible engagement, from a single Clinic Day to regular ongoing support, with rehabilitation milestones set and reviewed as residents progress.
The Three Red Flags We Screen For
Falls risk usually shows up before a fall happens, if you know what to look for. Our assessments screen every resident against three early indicators:
Shuffle or Freeze: dragging feet, or freezing mid-turn.
The Lean: leaning to one side when seated or standing.
Fear Factor: hesitation or visible anxiety before standing or walking.
Residents flagging on any of these are prioritised for a full assessment and, where appropriate, a tailored Clinic Day.
The Evidence Behind the Protocol
The Falls Shield Protocol is built on published research rather than in-house claims. The FinCH trial found up to a 43% reduction in falls rate during months 4–6 of a tailored, staff-engaged multifactorial programme. Cochrane's 2025 review of care facility residents found active exercise reduces the rate of falls by around 32% (moderate-certainty evidence, 14 trials, 2,215 participants). Our programmes are structured around this evidence base, with staff engagement and ongoing tracking built in to help sustain results beyond the initial engagement.
Falls Shield Protocol Pricing
Delivered as a Half-Day Clinic (£450, up to 8 residents) or Full-Day Clinic (£750, up to 12 residents), both including full outcome reporting and CQC-aligned documentation. Individual referrals and complex-case MDT input are also available — see full pricing for details.
Book Your Free Falls Prevention Seminar
A free 30-minute, no-obligation session for your staff, covering the Three Red Flags and how to use them day to day. No sales pitch, just practical training your team can use immediately.