What you should know about falls

Falls are one of the main reasons for injury among the elderly, but just a few changes can assist fall prevention for elderly people. In the UK, the Gloucestershire County Council offered elderly people the chance to play some Nintendo Wii games while Telford & Wrekin Council ran a Sloppy Slipper Exchange, where old slippers could be changed for new ones at a really low price. This was all part of the National Falls Awareness Week and was done in a bid to save the taxpayer some money by reducing the costs acquired from council-funded home care and full-time nursing as a result of falls and injuries.

Other councils held exercise for the elderly and promoted the use of telecare fall alarms, much like the quality products on offer at Call4Care. Research has shown that regular exercises and something as simple as a new pair of slippers can drastically reduce the risk of falling.

Councillor David Rogers, chair of the Local Government Association Community Wellbeing Board, told the Telegraph: "Councils are committed to providing the best level of care for all their older citizens, with prevention being the best route. Basic exercises and something as simple as new slippers can stop an older person falling over, an event which can change their lives forever. Modern technology can also play a vital part. Councils are promoting active games consoles as a fun and safe way to keep healthy, and telecare fall alarms that put a carer or paramedic in contact with a fall victim within seconds."

Statistics from the LGA showed that a third of people over the age of 65 fell at least once a year, with ten percent of the falls resulting in an injury which required medical attention. Another alarming statistic was that under 20 percent of men and women over 65 are doing the recommended amount of physical exercise. To ensure that your loved ones are looked after, ensure that you look at fall prevention for elderly family members. Contact a representative from Call4Care now to find out which telecare products will give complete peace of mind.

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