Falls Awareness Weeks is coming
Published on 29 May 2012 11:00 AM
Did you know that half of over 80s and a third of over 65s are at risk of a potentially serious fall this year?
Falls can leave people shaken and bruised, often with broken bones, and that one in five falls can be fatal.
This is why it is essential that older people know how to reduce the risks of falls and look after their strength, balance and bone health.
Our Healthy Initiatives Officer Joanne Bass says:
"As we get older, our bone strength naturally deteriorates, and so falls are a serious threat to older people's health, and the effects of serious falls can be fatal for older people.
"Even if there is no lasting physical damage, the psychological effects of falling over can destroy older people's confidence; make them afraid to leave the house and cause them to feel lonely and isolated.
"This is why Age Cymru will be running Falls Awareness Week 2012 between June 18 and 22, to help raise awareness of how older people can prevent falls through exercise and a healthy, balanced diet."
Age Cymru will be encouraging people to ‘boost their bones' by getting out in the sunshine and taking a daily 10 minute walk during Falls Awareness Week.
We have also launched a poster and a new booklet ‘Avoiding slips, trips and falls' in time for Falls Awareness Week.
It gives tips and advice on how to reduce the risk of falling at home and guidelines on activities that can help people maintain their independence by reducing their risk of falling.
We're also inviting professionals who work with older people to get involved with Falls Awareness Week 2012 by hosting their own events, as Joanne Bass says:
"We want to see a range of activities taking place across Wales during Falls Awareness Week 2012 to help improve older people's understanding of how to avoid falls.
"Age Cymru has produced an action pack to help you run your event, including ideas for activities and more information about the Falls Awareness Week 2012 theme - ‘Boost Your Bones'.
If you work with older people or come into touch with them through your work and want to take part in Falls Awareness Week, please contact Joanne Bass or visit our Falls Awareness Week web page.