Yorkshire Elderly Care Provider Recognises Falls Awareness Week

Published 20 June 2013.

National Falls Awareness Week is taking place from 17-21 June 2013 which offers an opportunity for older people, relatives and carers to find out more about falls and take part in local events. It also enables families to learn more about local services available to help. The focus of this year’s Fall Awareness Week is the importance of healthy feet and how this is fundamental in maintaining mobility and independence.

Injuries from falls are one of the leading causes of death amongst people aged over 75 and over 9,000 people die every year as a result of a fall. It is also estimated that falls cause 250,000 elderly people to be hospitalised each year.

This year’s focus on foot conditions and complaints which can result in foot pain has helped raise awareness that this can cause problems with balance, walking and sensation in the feet which often lead to falls. In 2012, 60,000 elderly people were taken into hospital following a trip or a stumble on a flat surface and nearly 18,000 following a fall on the stairs.

Although it is often considered that falls amongst older people are simply a part of aging, there are preventive measures that can be taken to increase chances of remaining healthy and independent for as long as possible. This includes reporting any problems you may have with your feet to a GP or a nurse, and wearing well fitted shoes and slippers which help you to feel contact with the floor. Other things to look out for are taking regular exercise; having your eyes and hearing checked regularly to improve balance and co-ordination; including plenty of calcium in your diet and getting Vitamin D (the best source is sunshine) to retain bone strength, and managing medications correctly since these can make you feel faint or affect balance.

The Carefound Home Care team in North Yorkshire provides support to elderly people in their own homes, including people with dementia. They place great importance on helping clients remain steady on their feet and will not only seek to ensure that families are aware of important preventative measures, but also review the risk of falls in the home due to hazards such as dangerous surfaces or poor lighting.

Source: Carefound, Age UK.

About Carefound:

Carefound is a provider of specialist home care and dementia care services to elderly people in North Yorkshire, enabling clients to continue to live independently in the comfort of their own home whilst maintaining the highest quality of life achievable. Services provided include basic help in the home,companionship, personal care, medication help, post-operative rehabilitation, respite care and specialist help such as dementia care and palliative care. The flexible service ranges from 1 hour to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, including bank holidays, and can also encompass 24-hour live in care services.

Tel: 01423 774070 | Web: www.carefound.co.uk | Email: enquiries@carefound.co.uk