FALLS
Balance class in Hanwell
Staying balanced
Falls and fall-related injuries are a common and serious problem
for older people. They can lead to injuries, distress and loss of
independence. They can also affect their family and carers.
E
ach year, medical staff across
London deal with thousands
of fall-related injuries and,
nationally, the NHS spends an
estimated £2.3billion a year on them.
In many cases, longer-term effects of
falls can mean a greater dependence
on social care support in the home or
admission to a care home.
Recent research shows strong evidence
that early assessment and prevention
can reduce the likelihood of falls.
Ealing Council works with
organisations across the borough on
a Falls Prevention Programme which
has three strands:
n
Advice on what to do to help
avoid falling
Doris Van Der
Heyden at a
Neighbourly
Care session
n
What
is available
locally to help people
maintain balance and
confidence
n
Falls services for people who have
had a fall.
Councillor Hitesh Tailor, the council’s
cabinet member for health and adult
services, said: “As we age, the chances
of suffering a fall increase. This can
affect our confidence, our balance and
make even short trips to the shops or
to visit friends a challenge. Our falls
prevention team is here to help you to
avoid slips, trips and falls. It’s vital to
keep fit and maintain balance to make
us less prone to falls and prevent injury.”
BECOMING ACTIVE
There are many ways to reduce your risk
of having a fall, including doing exercises
to improve your strength and balance.
StayActive4Life runs free strength
and balance programmes throughout
the borough, on behalf of the council.
The sessions are led
by trained fitness
instructors.
David Blackwell
has attended sessions
in Greenford and
Hanwell. He said: “It
has changed my life
for the better. Having had
three falls recently, the exercises
12
around ealing October 2017
Above: David Blackwell