Falls prevention


Decaf by default: a simple change delivering big results


As care homes’ role in supporting prevention grows under new government health and care policies on frailty and dementia, Ruth French describes how a simple switch to offering decaffeinated drinks can have a big impact.


“Since being on decaf, once I go to sleep, I sleep right through until about 5am ... an undisturbed night has made a huge difference to me” says Bob, who took part in the Decaf Project in his care home. What began as a simple switch from caffeinated to decaffeinated drinks has since been associated with fewer falls, better sleep and improved continence across a growing number of care settings and hospitals too. As the NHS shifts towards a


neighbourhood health model focused on prevention, early intervention and reducing avoidable hospital admissions, care homes have an increasingly important role to play in supporting population health. In July 2025, the 10 Year Health Plan for England noted support to those attending hospital frequently as a priority. This is pertinent in regard to falls incidents amongst the elderly, given that around a third of people aged 65 and over, and around half of people aged 80 and over, fall at least once a year with an estimated cost to the NHS of £4.4bn each


year, according to government figures. In addition to the falls prevention


technologies highlighted in that report, which play an increasingly important part in supporting a care home environment that supports independence with less intrusive oversight, there is a low-tech innovation that has been quietly transforming practice within care homes and hospitals across the country.


The Decaf Project The Decaf Project is an initiative developed within social care by care home group Stow Healthcare with Care England and originally supported by University Hospitals of Leicester Trust (UHL). It was conceived by UHL in 2021 based on standard NHS continence advice that encourages individuals experiencing overactive bladder issues to reduce their caffeine intake. Caffeine can affect bladder function in three ways: it acts as a stimulant, an irritant and a mild diuretic, increasing urgency and frequency for some people.


The premise of the original project based


in hospital wards looked at whether falls connected with going to the loo could be reduced if decaffeinated drinks were offered by default. The early results were striking: the trial resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in falls relating to toileting among inpatients after three months. A significant number of falls take place


in care home environments. People living in care homes are three times more likely to fall than those living at home; they are usually older, more frail and less mobile than people living in the community, according to the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). As then owner and director of Stow Healthcare, a group of care homes in East Anglia, the UHL project aligned closely with our philosophy of empowering people living in our homes to make a positive impact on their health and wellbeing and maintain their independence – something which can be very negatively impacted by lost confidence after a fall.


September 2026 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 31


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