lthough physical restraint for fall prevention and delirium management is being used where appropriate, the geriatrics team at Shatin Hospital (SH) would like to explore other feasible options.

As such, a Fall and Restraint Reduction (FARR) team comprising doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists from the Medical and Geriatric Department at SH was created to reduce the use of physical restraint.

The FARR programme aims to enhance patient rehabilitation, improve service quality and allow staff to better understand patient needs and manage delirium and falls appropriately. Alternatives such as enhanced observation, patient monitoring and low electric beds were put into practice to achieve this.

Results were highly satisfactory as restraint rates dropped from 32 per cent in 2005 to below one per cent in 2010 - with no increase in fall rate.

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