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The Falls Risk Assessment Tool

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The Falls Risk Assessment Tool
Developed by: Peninsula Health
Format: Assessment tool and Instructions for use
Availability: Download FRAT
Download Instructions for use

The Falls Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) was developed by the Peninsula Health Falls Prevention Service for a DH funded project in 1999, and is part of the FRAT Pack. A study evaluating the reliability and validity of the FRAT has been published (Stapleton C, Hough P, Bull K, Hill K, Greenwood K, Oldmeadow L (2009). A 4-item falls-risk screening tool for sub-acute and residential care: The first step in falls prevention. Australasian Journal on Ageing 28(3): 139-143). The FRAT has been distributed to approximately 400 agencies world wide.

The FRAT has three sections: Part 1 - falls risk status; Part 2 – risk factor checklist; and Part 3 – action plan. The complete tool (including instructions for use) is a complete falls risk assessment tool. However, Part 1 can be used as a falls risk screen. An abbreviated version of the instructions for use has been included on this website. For a complete copy of the instructions for use please refer to the FRAT Pack or contact the Peninsula Health Falls Prevention Service, telephone (61 3) 9788 1260.

The FRAT is a validated tool, therefore changes to Part 1 of the tool are not recommended.

Please note: The cognitive status question in Part 1 on the FRAT refers to the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS). This resource is available at http://anzsgm.org/vgmtp/Dementia/cognitive_screening_tests.htm (please note: this will take you out of the Department of Health website).

In 2009 the Department of Health funded Northern Health, in conjunction with National Ageing Research Institute, to review falls prevention resources for the Department of Health’s website. The materials used as the basis of this generic resource were developed by Peninsula Health under a Service Agreement with the Department of Human Services, now the Department of Health. Other resources to
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