Falls are a dangerous business

HEALTH bosses are urging people to take care and be aware of the dangers of falling.

Having a fall can cause unseen damage by knocking your confidence.

Having a fall can have serious repercussions for an older person, sometimes resulting in a loss of independence.

Be aware of the dangers: About a third of all people aged over 65 fall each year, with higher rates among those over 75.

According to NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, it is estimated that falls affect 33 per cent of people over the age of 65.



This can result in countless hospital visits for those who fall and this can also create a huge demand on the NHS. In some cases people are moved into residential care for the rest of their life.

The regional director for public health at NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, Paul Johnstone, said: "The more falls a person has the more reliant on NHS services they become, which can results in a loss of independence and a diminished quality of life.

"Making people aware of why they fall means recurring falls become less common. Our advice would be to make sure your living space is as free from clutter as possible, this will minimise the risk of a trip or fall in the home.

"When out and about it is also important to make sure you wear appropriate footwear.

"People with elderly relatives may also ask them if they need any assistance with things like picking up groceries, especially when the weather is bad."

National charity Age UK says falling in older age can lead to increased anxiety and depression, reduced activity, mobility and social contact, higher use of medication and greater dependence on medical and social services and other forms of care.

According to the charity's statistics, about a third of all people aged over 65 fall each year, with higher rates among those over 75.

More facts are:
Falls represent over half of hospital admissions for accidental injury, particularly hip fracture.

Half of those with hip fracture never regain their former level of function and one in five die within three months.

Of those older people who enter falls prevention programmes, most do so only after they have fallen, by which time they may have suffered serious consequences.

Among those who are given the opportunity to take part in a falls prevention programme, the proportion who decide not to participate is often over 50 percent, even in high-risk groups of people offered intensive intervention (for example, an exercise programme). For simple interventions in the community, such as home-based exercises, observed rates of uptake have often been less than 10 percent.

A charity spokesperson said: "Many older people are resistant to advice about preventing falls.

"Some consider it relevant only to people older and frailer than themselves; other people accept that they are at risk of falling but feel nothing can be done about it and that it is an inevitable part of ageing.

"Rather than focusing on the risk of falls and the possible consequences, it is always better to start by stressing the benefits of improving strength and balance.

"Strength and balance training is a key intervention to reduce the risk of falling. Training can be given for this at home, in the community or in hospital."