Age UK Cheshire has extended its Falls Prevention Service

In partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council the service is available to anyone over the age of 60 who has fallen or who is at risk of falling.  

The service is free and includes a home visit from a Falls Prevention advisor who will identify any hazards in the home, advising on minor adaptations such as the fitting of grab rails.  They will also talk through some of the factors that can affect safety in the home, such as vision, hearing, mobility, foot care, medication, diet and exercise. 

Tracy Etherington has joined as a new Falls Prevention Co-ordinator and is based at Age UK Cheshire’s head office in Hartford.  

Tracy commented: “I am delighted to have joined the Falls Prevention team.  The extra funding that we’ve received has enabled us to extend the service beyond Ellesmere Port and Chester, which is just fantastic.  It is so important as falls are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people and account for up to 40% of ambulance call-outs to homes where someone is aged over 65.  Intervention from a falls prevention professional could reduce the number of falls, nationally, by as much as 30%.” (Later Life in the UK Factsheet 2016)

Those who are at risk of falling or know someone else who is, can either contact Age UK Cheshire directly or can be referred by any health professional, social services, voluntary organisations, carers, relatives, friends or neighbours.

For more information, please call (Northwich) 01606 884446 or (Ellesmere Port) 0151 348 5495/6 or click here

Age UK Cheshire does not fund the fitting of rails but can recommend a reputable handyman who provides and fits the rails or can suggest alternative arrangements.

Our Falls Prevention co-ordinator will also give Falls Prevention talks to community groups and information sessions for professionals about the service