Avoiding Falls

Six out of ten falls happen in the home or garden. Improving safety in the home can help prevent you from having falls and injuring yourself, whilst allowing you to continue to live independently. It’s important to keep your home well-lit and clutter free to avoid falls.

Helping to prevent falls

Improving safety in the home can help prevent you from having falls and injuring yourself, whilst allowing you to continue to live independently.

Falls, slips and trips can lead to broken hips or wrists and other injuries, and are a leading cause of disability among the older population. Falls in the home can result in ill health, lengthy hospital stays, residential care, loss of independence, and can greatly affect your quality of life.

Various aspects of the home environment can be improved to reduce the risk of having a fall. Family, friends, neighbours and carers can help make things safer for you while allowing you to stay independent and self-sufficient. Following are some tips on avoiding falls:

Make sure that the hallway and stairs have working lights - if possible replace the bulbs with low energy bulbs and keep light on overnight
Wear slippers with an appropriate heel so that they stay firmly on the feet
Regular gentle exercise can help reduce the risk and fear of falling. Strength and balance exercise and Tai Chi is particularly helpful for improving balance
Have grab rails installed at key sites around the home or at the entrance to the home. (please refer to the Peterborough City Council Handy Person Scheme)
Fasten down any torn bits of carpet or lino
Avoid tripping over the edge of rugs by either removing them or fastening down the edges
Review medication with your GP or pharmacist
Ensure that you look after your feet and ask for a referral to a podiatrist if you are worried about your feet
Speak to your occupational therapist who can give you lots of advice

For more personalised advice on how you can reduce your chances of falling, please call the Solutions4Health Falls Prevention Wellness Coach service on 01733 894 540 or email healthypeterborough@nhs.net. The service is for those aged 65+ who have had a fall or felt increasingly unsteady in the last year.

Visit our interactive Steady on Your Feet Home Safety checklist to help you identify hazards and improve safety in your home.

Falls are not an inevitable part of ageing and many can be prevented. Use our Steady on Your Feet self-assessment tool to help you understand what is putting you at risk of falling and the simple things you can do to help yourself stay steady, mobile and independent. The short, interactive risk checker will provide you with a personalised action plan at the end with helpful advice and action you can take to stay active and doing the things you enjoy.

Find out more about technology that can help you on our Technology Enabled Care page.

Adult learning