The national health campaign, Falls Prevention Week, is 23-27 September 2024.
The theme this year is ‘From Awareness to Action’ which underlies that falls are preventable and do not have to be a normal part of aging.
There are several ways you can reduce the risk of a fall such as making simple changes within the home and doing exercises to improve a person’s strength and balance.
The following tips help to prevent falls at home:
- Immediately mopping up spillages
- Removing frayed carpet, clutter and trailing wires
- Using non-slip mats and rugs
- Having well lit rooms and hallways
- Not walking on slippery floors in socks or tights
- Not wearing trailing clothes that can trip you up
- Wearing shoes with ankle support
- Taking care of your feet by trimming toenails
It’s important to do regular strength and balance exercise training to improve these key skills which help reduce the risk of a fall. You can speak to your GP about training in your area.
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