People Are Urged To Spring Into Action On Falls This April
Derbyshire County Council and partners are launching a campaign aimed at preventing older people from serious injury from falls.
The Reduce Hospital Footfall campaign is aimed at anyone who works with, or comes into contact with, older people.
One in three people aged 65 and over will experience a fall each year and one in 20 falls result in serious injuries.
However falling is not an inevitable part of getting older and the council is offering help and advice on how to help prevent it.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “Preventable falls can cause people serious injuries and, in many cases, hospital admissions.
“We want to make sure that everyone is aware of the risk factors that can lead to unnecessary falls as well as promoting the Ask. Assess. Act message to anyone who comes in contact with older people.
“So we’re working with organisations including Age UK, the NHS and others to ask workers and volunteers, who come into regular contact with older people, to spring into action to help reduce falls and injuries.”
Find out more about how to help prevent trips and falls at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/falls
The Reduce Hospital Footfall campaign will be launched at the Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing board meeting on April 19th at County Hall, Matlock.
There will be a flash mob performance of Strictly No Falling exercises taking part before the meeting.
Some of the main risk factors for falls, and what to do about them, include:
1: Home hazards such as clutter, trailing cables, loose rugs, poor lighting
Solution: Make safe where possible or contact the Handy Van service on 01629 533190 for help
2: Badly fitting footwear
Solution: Advise to replace with new, properly fitting footwear
3: Poor eyesight.
Solution: Advise to see optician for eye test
4: Worried about getting help after a fall
Solution: Advise to get a falls alarms, contact Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190
5: Fear of falling
Solution: Encourage to join a Strictly No Falling course, contact Age UK on 01773 766922.
Health and social care staff, volunteers and carers are also being encouraged to follow the Ask. Assess. Act. procedure:
Ask older people about how they are feeling, talk about ageing well and discuss how they can be supported to improve their health in order to reduce falls and stay independent.
Assess the older person’s risk of falling by asking them (or their family / carers) whether they:
• Have had two or more falls in the last 12 months
• Had a single fall and needed medical attention in the last 12 months
• Are anxious or worried about falling and has one or more of the fallowing risk factors:
- Appears unsteady
- Finds it difficult to get out of a chair
- Takes four or more prescription medicines
Act on any immediate risk such as clutter, loose rugs or poorly fitting footwear and advise the older person to contact their GP to discuss their risk of falling.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| News Have you seen missing girl Megan From Ripley Have you seen Megan? The 15-year-old has been reported missing from her home in Ripley. read more | |
| A night at the museum for the 5th Dronfield Hilltop Cubs Great British Car Journey, the award-winning classic car museum in Ambergate, Derbyshire, hosted the pack for a very special read more | |
| Alfreton chapel with planning for redevelopment as two homes goes under the hammer The former Methodist chapel in the village of Westhouses near Alfreton is to go up for auction thi read more | |
| Love Sadler Gate Promises Blooming Good Time at Spring Market Love Sadler Gate, the collective of independent businesses in the iconic Derby Cathedral Quarter street, will be holdin read more | |
| Lord Burlington opens iconic Heage Windmill On Saturday around 120 guests welcomed Lord Burlington to Heage Windmill for the Official Opening of the mill following extensive repairs read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Cold Callers claiming to be working on behalf of Derbyshire County Council Policehave seen and increase in reports of 'cold callers' where people are claiming to be working on behal read more | |
| Subscriptions For Amber Valley Borough Councils 2024 Garden Waste Service Are Now Open The garden waste collection service is available to all residents in Amber Valley except for r read more | |
| Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley boosting the speed, performance and coverage of mobile services in the area. read more | |
| Trent Barton Buses - Extension Of The £2 Single Fare Cap Trent Barton Buses have confirmed their participation in the extension of the £2 single fare cap until the end o read more | |
| Crich Tramway Village Looking For An Engineering Manager The successful candidate for this post will have excellent management skills gained whilst working in a practical workshop e read more | |
