Move to help elderly avoid falls at home

Darlington Primary Care Trust is working with the borough council, warden services, carers and residential and nursing homes to provide an integrated falls service.

The initiative's aim is to seek to prevent falls, and work with people have suffered them to prevent future problems.

Falls are among the main causes of serious injury in older people and can lead to health complications that are difficult to recover from.

The trust's specialist osteoporosis nurse, Sue Jackson, said: "Falling can have a significant impact on your health, your lifestyle, your daily living. About 50 per cent of people who fall break a hip and end up in a care home. And yet our research shows that people who have done this have fallen at least twice before without injuring themselves.

"Older people have the highest risk of falls. About 95 per cent of broken hips are due to falls, and more than 90 per cent of hip fractures are due to osteoporosis."

She said many falls were often easily preventable. Advice on potential hazards in the home, such as uneven rugs, and loose carpet and flexes, was one area that could be addressed.

Assessment of the side-effects of medication and review of conditions which alter balance, sight and hearing, is also being planned.

"Leading an active lifestyle can halve your risk of breaking a bone, particularly your hip," Mrs Jackson said.

"Although you may not want to do all the things you did when you were younger, if you stop using your muscles as you get older they will lose strength. This, in turn, will affect your mobility and sense of balance."

She said people who had fallen should be aware that even if they had not injured themselves they should still inform a health professional.

The integrated falls service would ensure patients were directed to the most appropriate help available, whether that was in their own home, the falls clinic, physiotherapy or hospital, she said.