Stay steady this Falls Prevention Awareness Week

Talk Community launches new falls prevention resource

We’ve launched a new online falls prevention resource, to coincide with Falls Prevention Awareness Week (20 – 24 September).

The annual awareness week aims to highlight the different measures older people can take, to try and prevent themselves from having a fall.

Our free online resource is full of fantastic information, top tips and short films, which will help more people in Herefordshire to see what they can do to look after themselves and reduce their risk of falling, especially as they get older.

The top five tips to help you stay steady and prevent a fall, are:

1)  Stay active, eat well and keep hydrated

2)  Remove trip hazards in your home and garden

3)  Always wear well fitted footwear

4)  Be aware of raised shop doorways, pavement changes and uneven surfaces

5)  Regularly review your medication and have your eyes and ears tested

Councillor Felicity Norman, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Wellbeing, said: “It is estimated that 1 in 3 adults aged over 65, who live at home, will have at least one fall a year, with around half of these having more frequent falls.  Although the majority of falls don’t result in serious injury, there’s always a risk that a fall could lead to medical complications, hospitalisation or loss of independence.

“The launch of the new Talk Community falls prevention resource is a great way to help more people stay healthy, active and independent for longer and gives families additional support to help older loved ones.”

To find out more about what you can do to help yourself, a loved one or people in your local community, to reduce the risk of falling, visit www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/falls.