Falls advice 

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Falls and how to prevent them

 

Falls can affect people of all ages with older people being especially vulnerable. In the UK, one in three people aged over 65 and one in two people over 85 fall each year.

 

In Bolton, this is around 13,000 people over 65 and 2,244 over 85. For some this means a serious injury such as a hip fracture.  

 

In 2010, 355 people were admitted to Royal Bolton Hospital with a fractured hip as a result of a fall. Some other startling facts are listed below:

 

  • Repeat falls are associated with more hospital admissions, problems with normal daily tasks, reduced quality of life, loss of confidence, and fear of falls.
  • Half of all people who fall will have a further fall in the next 12 months.
  • Nine out of ten osteoporotic hip fractures result from a simple fall from standing height. Half of those previously independent become partly dependent and one third become totally dependent.
  • 75% falls are not reported.
  • After a fall an older person has a 50% probability of having serious mobility problems and 10% probability of dying within a year.
  • One older person dies every five hours as a result of a fall.

With a little adjustment to our environment and lifestyle we can reduce our own risks. The majority of falls are preventable and predictable and therefore not an inevitable part of getting old.

 

Click on the following links to find out more:

 

·         Consequences of a fall

·         Recognising the risk factors

·         Things to do to reduce the risk  

·         How to get help to reduce the risk

·         Coping strategies to use if you fall

·         Recognising the risk factors for osteoporosis and how to prevent it

·         Other useful websites