Falls awareness week in Trafford (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford Provider Services, Age UK Trafford, Trafford Carers Centre, Trafford Council, Trafford Community Leisure Trust and Trafford Housing Trust support AgeUK’s Falls Awareness Week

1:18pm Tuesday 12th June 2012 in News

TRAFFORD physiotherapy and occupational therapy staff will be carrying out free walking stick checks to support AgeUK’s Falls Awareness Week, running from June 18 to 24.

Debra Maloney, from Trafford Provider Services, said: “Falls are a serious problem for older people. An estimated 30 per cent of people that are over 65 fall every year and this figure increases to 50 per cent of those over 80.

“We are proactive in falls prevention and have run a number of popular events in the past. This year we are linking in with Trafford’s Health Hips and Hearts exercise classes which support keeping the over 50s fit and healthy and will be on hand after classes to promote a wider range of services and initiatives to help keep people safe and well in their own homes.”

The team will be checking sticks to see if the ferrule – the rubber stopper on the bottom of the stick – is worn out and needs replacing. They will also be available to give advice to people including teaching them better techniques for walking with their sticks and showing them how to recognise when a ferrule needs replacing.

AgeUK Trafford will be offering advice on home safety and support services within Trafford. There will be Telecare product information, health eating guidance and medicines management advice along with information from Trafford Leisure Trust on activities available across Trafford designed to help people stay fit and active.

All this will be available at the following events: • June 19 from 11.30am to 1pm in Partington Methodist Church, Warburton Lane.

* June 20 from 12.30pm to 2.30pm in The Avenue Methodist Church, Wincham Road in Sale.

• June 21, 11.30am to 1pm in St Mathew's Church, Chester Rd, Stretford • June 22 from 1pm to 2.30pm from Timperley Methodist Church, Stockport Road, Timperley.

As well as Trafford Provider Services, Age UK Trafford, Trafford Carers Centre, Trafford Council, Trafford Community Leisure Trust and Trafford Housing Trust are all supporting Falls Week 2012 in the borough.

Here are some tips on how to ensure your home is fall-free: • Keep pathways clear of moss and leaves, as these can make it slippery, and get any loose bricks or paving stones fixed.

• Remove any rugs that slide around or that have curled edges.

• Use a bedside lamp to light the room if you get up in the night – you can trip in the dark even in a familiar room.

• Make sure your dressing gown cords don’t trail along the floor.

• Put non-slip flooring in your bathroom, such as carpet or non-slip tiles.