Excellence - New Zealand Aged Care Association

Feature
ACC UPDATE
Update:
Vitamin D Used in Aged Care Facilities
Judith Johnson - Consultant to the Aged Care Sector
Current national supplementation
rate for New Zealand
• Data provided by the Ministry of Health indicates that around 75% of the 65+ population who reside in residential care are
receiving Vitamin D supplementation.
• There cannot be a direct causal link made between the use of Vitamin D in residential settings and a reduction in claims,
due to the number of variables involved.
However as seen in the chart below, claims have reduced as supplementation levels have increased.
Results
ACC claims for falls in ARC vs Vitamin D prescribing
16000
80%
14000
70%
Number of 65+ fall claims by those in
residential care
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
Percentage of Vitamin D Prescribing
2000
10%
0
2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2011/12
ACC Financial Year (July to June)
65+ residential falls Vitamin D prescribing
0%
There is local variation on supplementation figures, with the highest rates occurring in areas that have embedded
Vitamin D supplementation into ‘business as usual’ activities. These processes include:
• discharging ‘Standing Orders’ from hospital
• ensuring Vitamin D is included in admission procedures to residential units.
Going forward
• Future plans to start working with DHBs and PHOs around community prescribing for Vitamin D for individuals who would
benefit, as per ACC’s ‘Community Dwelling Prescribing Advice’.
• ACC are currently trialling Community Pharmacists to take the lead in identifying people who would benefit in the Nelson
region and hope to also fund trials using the interRAI system in the near future.
To find out more about ACC injury prevention in general or information visit: www.acc.co.nz/preventing-injuries.
11. Excellence in CARE APRIL 2013