• A Stefanie Mikolaizak, Paul M Simpson, Anne Tiedemann, Stephen R Lord, and Jacqueline C T Close.
• Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Australas J Ageing. 2013 Sep 1;32(3):147-57.

AimTo review the evidence regarding non-transported older people who have fallen in relation to non-transportation rates, outcomes and impact of alternate care pathways.MethodElectronic databases and reference lists of included studies (up to December 2011) were systematically searched. Studies were eligible if they included data on non-transportation rates, information on outcomes or alternate care pathways for older people who have fallen.ResultsTwelve studies were included. Non-transportation rates following a fall ranged from 11% to 56%. Up to 49% of non-transported people who have fallen had unplanned health-care contact within 28 days of the initial incident. Attendance by specially trained paramedics and individualised multifactorial interventions significantly reduced adverse events including subsequent falls, emergency ambulance calls, emergency department attendance and hospital admission.ConclusionLimited but promising evidence shows that appropriate interventions can improve health outcomes of non-transported older people who have fallen. Further studies are needed to explore alternate care pathways and promote more efficient use of health services.© 2013 The Authors. Australasian Journal on Ageing © 2013 ACOTA.

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