Angels Private Home Care Services
Angels Private Home Care Services
fall prevention elderly
Preventing falls at home is difficult but 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 fallen in the past, making changes to reduce your chances of having a fall can also help you overcome any fear of falling.
Some older people may be reluctant to seek help and advice from a GP and other support services about preventing falls because they believe their concerns will not be taken seriously.
But all healthcare professionals take falls in older people very seriously because of the significant impact they can have on a person's health.
Discuss any falls you have had with a GP and say if it's had any impact on your health and wellbeing.
The GP can carry out some simple balance tests to check whether you're at an increased risk of falling in the future. They can also refer you to useful services in your local area.
Tips for preventing falls in the home include:
Doing regular strength exercises and balance exercises can improve your strength and balance, and reduce your risk of having a fall.
This can take the form of simple activities such as walking and dancing, or specialist training programmes.
Many community centres and local gyms offer specialist training programmes for older people.
Exercises that can be carried out at home are also available. Ask a GP about training programmes in your area.
It's important that a strength and balance training programme is tailored to the individual and monitored by an appropriately trained professional.
There's also evidence that taking part in regular tai chi sessions can reduce the risk of falls. Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that places particular emphasis on movement, balance and co-ordination.
Unlike other martial arts, tai chi does not involve physical contact or rapid physical movements, making it an ideal activity for older people.