26 February 2026
Falls Awareness at Thorntree Mews: Prevention, Partnership and Learning in Action
Move Health delivered its first falls awareness session at Thorntree Mews Care Home in Falkirk. It was a small pilot, but it captured something important about what we are trying to build.
The session brought together around twelve residents, three to four members of staff, and seven MSc Physiotherapy students. Many of the residents live with varying levels of cognitive impairment and mobility challenges, with most walking with an aid. That shaped how we approached the session: keeping it practical, visual, discussion-based and responsive rather than information-heavy.
Students facilitated small-group conversations about falls risk, invited residents to share their own experiences, and used simple visual prompts to explore everyday hazards such as wet floors, trip risks and muscle weakness. The focus was not just on “teaching”, but on creating space for reflection, confidence and shared problem-solving.
What residents told us
Four residents completed feedback following the session. In a cognitively diverse group, that level of engagement in itself felt positive.
Three out of four residents said the session helped them understand falls better. All four reported feeling more confident about what to do to stay safe. Every respondent said the session made sense and that they learned something new. All four said they would like us to return.
When asked what stood out, residents mentioned:
“Pictures.”
“Risk of slipping on wet floor or tripping over…”
“Spotting with questions.”
“Impressed by the things that were emphasised.”
For me, those comments reinforce something simple but powerful: accessible, visual and conversational approaches matter.
What staff observed
Two members of staff completed formal evaluation. Both rated the session as very valuable and scored overall effectiveness 5 out of 5. Both agreed that it provided practical ideas they could reinforce in daily care.
They also highlighted the value of the paper-based resources and posters we left behind to support ongoing discussion. The intention was always sustainability: not just delivering a session, but enabling continued conversations.
Their follow-up emails were generous and encouraging:
“The session was a lovely boost to the day… it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces.”
“All of your energy, encouragement and kindness really shone through.”
“The positive impact on both the physical and emotional wellbeing of the residents is clear to see.”
The home has since asked for further sessions and is keen to explore additional activities together. That shift, from pilot to partnership, is perhaps the most meaningful outcome.
What students learned
Five students completed structured reflection aligned to our intended learning outcomes.
All agreed or strongly agreed that they applied principles of health promotion and primary prevention. Every student strongly agreed that they facilitated discussion in an inclusive and person-centred way. All reported adapting their communication in response to participant needs. Most agreed or strongly agreed that the experience deepened their understanding of physiotherapy’s role in addressing health inequalities.
Students described slowing their speech, simplifying language, using visual prompts, leading with questions rather than information, and adjusting the format in real time when engagement shifted.
This is physiotherapy beyond exercise prescription. It is prevention, communication, adaptability and community engagement in practice.
More than a session
Alongside the interactive workshop, we left Thorntree Mews with practical discussion sheets and visual posters to support ongoing reinforcement within the home. Falls prevention is not achieved in a single hour. It is built through repeated, supported conversations and shared awareness.
This pilot reminded us that prevention is relational as much as it is educational.
What Thorntree said
Thorntree Mews Care Home shared this reflection with us after the session.
“The residents really enjoyed not only the session which was informative and very well put together, but having so many new faces and people to chat to.”
“It means a lot to us to build these connections and the positive impact on both the physical and emotional wellbeing of the residents is clear to see.”
Thorntree also told us we are always welcome back, and invited us to get in touch with ideas for learning sessions their team can support.
Looking ahead
Move Health was created to connect student learning with meaningful community impact. This first session demonstrated that when students are supported to lead, and communities are invited to collaborate, the benefits flow in both directions.
Thorntree Mews has invited us back. We are now exploring a series of follow-up sessions and additional initiatives together.
If you are a care home or community organisation interested in working with Move Health, we would welcome a conversation.
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