Falls service

Falls

There are ways you can reduce your risk of having a fall, including making simple changes to your home and doing exercises to improve your strength and balance. If you have any concerns, please talk to your GP.

Avoiding falls at home

Tips for preventing falls in the home include:

• immediately mopping up spillages
• removing clutter, trailing wires and frayed carpet
• using non-slip mats and rugs
• making sure all rooms, passages and staircases are well lit
• organising your home so that climbing, stretching and bending are kept to a minimum, and to avoid bumping into things
• getting help to do things you're unable to do safely on your own
• not walking on slippery floors in socks or tights
• not wearing loose-fitting, trailing clothes that might trip you up
• wearing well-fitting shoes that are in good condition and support the ankle
• taking care of your feet by trimming your toenails regularly and seeing a GP or chiropodist about any foot problems

10 Useful resources

1. Public Health England Active At Home booklet – a useful guide on how to be active at home for older adults particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic: PHE Active at Home Booklet 21 May ELECTRONIC.PDF

2. Get up and go booklet – a guide to staying steady: https://www.csp.org.uk/system/files/get_up_and_go_0.PDF

3. 10 today! Just 10 minutes of physical activity a day can benefit your physical and mental health. 10 Today is a short, enjoyable and easy routine: 10 today

4. A Doctor’s guide to preventing falls Preventing your Falls Risk Dr Thakkar with voiceover.pptx

6. Keep on Keep Up (KOKU) - A free evidence based app which aims to assist older adults to independently engage with evidence based strength and balance exercises and includes games on how to maintain bone health, home safety and staying hydrated: https://kokuhealth.com/

7. Age UK staying steady booklet: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/information-guides/ageukig14_staying_steady_inf.pdf

8. NHS exercises for older adults:

• Sitting exercises - https://www.nhs.uk/livewell/fitness/documents/NHS_sitting_exercise.pdf
• Flexibility exercises - https://assets.nhs.uk/prod/documents/NHS-flexibility-exercise.pdf
• Balance exercises - https://assets.nhs.uk/prod/documents/NHS-balance-exercise.pdf
• Strength exercises - https://www.nhs.uk/livewell/fitness/documents/NHS_strength_exercise.pdf

9. Royal Society for the prevention of accidents - safe at home tips for the over 65s https://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/home-safety/safe-at-home-over-65s-booklet.pdf

10. Falls Assistant Website

https://fallsassistant.org.uk/exercise-centre

What to do in the event of a fall

1. Making a falls plan: https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/preventing-falls/dealing-with-a-fall/what-to-do-if-you-fall
2. How to get up if you have a fall: https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/preventing-falls/dealing-with-a-fall/what-to-do-if-you-fall

Last reviewed: 01/06/2023