New South Wales residential aged care provider Twilight Aged Care has had outstanding results in falls and injury reduction and risk management since implementing a comprehensive, physiotherapy-led exercise and falls prevention program in its facilities three years ago. 

Outcomes from the program have been highly positive. 

A significant reduction in both the total number of falls and the number of falls resulting in serious injury have demonstrated the program’s effectiveness in reducing risk and promoting safety. 

The program, delivered by qualified physiotherapists, integrates group exercise sessions and individualised one-to-one interventions tailored to each resident’s functional needs, medical conditions and mobility goals. 

APA National President Dr Rik Dawson says, ‘The success of this initiative highlights the critical role of physiotherapy in aged care – where proactive, consistent and tailored exercise interventions not only support physical health but also foster dignity, independence and meaningful engagement in later life.’ 

Twilight CEO Niamh Mannion sees a broader impact beyond the benefits to the residents. 

‘By introducing proven physiotherapy-led exercise and falls prevention, we have reduced risk across our facilities, improved compliance to quality standards and changed the culture for residents and staff,’ Niamh says. 

Residents have reported enhanced quality of life, with improvements in confidence, participation and overall satisfaction with their mobility and wellbeing. 

Many residents report that the physiotherapist-run group classes are the highlight of the week. 

Participation, historically one of the greatest challenges to successful delivery of physical programs, is high, with 10–12 residents attending each session. 

A physiotherapist attends three days per week to deliver the program and provide staff manual handling and falls prevention training. 

They also contribute to multidisciplinary team huddles and risk management. 

The group exercise component of the program focuses on improving strength, balance and endurance through evidencebased functional exercise and can be adapted to residents of varying levels of mobility. 

Sessions include task-specific activities such as repeated sit-to-stand practice to build lower limb strength and confidence with transfers as well as stepping practice in multiple directions to enhance dynamic balance and reduce the risk of tripping. 

Residents complete progressive strength and balance exercises in both seated and standing positions where appropriate. 

Regular attendance and structured progression have translated into measurable improvements in physical performance, independence in daily activities and social engagement. 

In parallel, the one-on-one physiotherapy sessions have provided targeted rehabilitation for residents recovering from illness, injury or hospitalisation, ensuring continuity of care and early intervention to prevent deconditioning. 

Twilight physiotherapists are key participants in the circle of care, collaborating closely with nurses as well as care and lifestyle teams to identify residents at higher risk of falls and to review mobility and transfer techniques. 

Participation in daily clinical huddles ensures ongoing communication about residents’ changing functional status, allowing early intervention when mobility declines or new risk factors arise. 

This multidisciplinary, continuous approach fosters a culture of prevention, helping residents maintain independence, confidence and overall quality of life while significantly reducing fall incidents and injuries. 

>>Cameron Boyd APAM has worked full-time at Active Lifestyle Physiotherapy since completing his degree at the University of Sydney. Over the past 16 years he has worked with the NSW Institute of Sport and a number of elite football teams including Spirit FC and the Central Coast Mariners National Youth League team. This experience working in an elite setting has helped him over the past ten years to tailor individual programs to each client in his role with Twilight Aged Care.