ACC wants to keep ageing Kiwis Nymbl
New Zealand has a $1.8 billion problem that ACC wants to address.
Falls are the most common cause of injury in Aotearoa, accounting for 39% of all ACC claims.
ACC has now launched a balance app called Nymbl. It is fully funded by ACC and easy to use.
Nymbl is designed to help seniors stay steady on their feet, using dual tasking, combining simple body movements with easy brain games, like trivia, to challenge both the brain and body.
ACC has launched the app as part of its older people’s programme, Live Stronger for Longer, which is focused on preventing falls and fractures.
In 2022, 172,115 Kiwis aged 65 and over had a fall-related ACC claim. That is 22% of that age group.
James Whitaker, ACC injury prevention leader, says Nymbl helps improve the balance of older New Zealanders.
‘‘By investing 10 minutes a day, a few times a week, in the comfort of your own home, you can improve your balance and maintain your independence and confidence,’’ he says.
Research shows that falls happen when a person is distracted. It also shows that using Nymbl can improve a person’s balance by 30 percent.
ACC ran the Nymbl pilot from August 2020-September 2021. More than 15,000 people aged 55 years and over registered with the trial of Nymbl’s digital balance app.
Those 15,363 Nymbl users completed more than 300,000 training sessions and more than 100,000 education sessions. A total of 87% of users said they were likely to recommend the Nymbl balance training programme to a friend.
The research shows that 71% of Nymbl users who used the app for 21 days have improved their 30-second sit to stand balance test.
‘‘By doing the right things older people in New Zealand can have active, fun lifestyles and be unaffected by falls,’’ says Whitaker.
Fall-related injuries most commonly occur in the home, with women slightly more likely to be injured by falling than men.
Every year one in three people over 65 injure themselves in a fall, rising to one in two once they reach 80.
ACC accepted 749,610 claims for fall-related injuries in 2022. These injuries came at a cost of $1.8 billion to help people recover.
The total cost of fall-related injuries over the past six years was $8.6 billion.
‘‘Falls have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, especially if it results in a fracture, so we want to do what we can to prevent them from happening in the first place,’’ says Whitaker.
‘‘We want to dispel the idea that falling over is part of the ageing process.
‘‘Most falls are preventable. We want to help New Zealanders to stay on their feet, enjoying their independence and live the life they want to live.
‘‘We’re committed to reducing falls for older people in their homes and community.’’