Preventing Older People From Falling
Clare Horton and James Richards who are involved with the falls prevention sessions
Preventing older people from falling
In Wales, it’s estimated that about a third of people over the age of 65, and half of the over 80’s age group fall every year.
Falls represent over half of hospital admissions for accidental injury, particularly hip fracture, with fractures costing the NHS an estimated at £1.7 billion per year.
That’s why the Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme, Gwynedd Council’s Health Communities Department and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are supporting an exercise programme to help prevent falls.
The programme which will get underway on 21 March 2017 will see a Physiotherapist and an Exercise Professional working together at the Pavilion Leisure Centre in Barmouth. The programme will aim to improve strength and balance for older adults to prevent falls and fractures.
The programme has been designed by specialist training providers, Later Life Training and is based on evidence research. The seven components of the programme include strength, balance, flexibility, endurance, floor activities, getting up and off the floor and tai chi.
Councillor Mair Rowlands, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet member for Healthy Gwynedd said:
“It’s excellent to see this type of collaboration between Health and Leisure to ensure that there is a programme to help people who have either had a fall or are afraid of falling because of issues with their balance. This may affect their confidence to go out of the house and could cause people to become isolated. This class offers practical exercises and has a lovely social aspect with a cup of tea at the end of the session.”
Posters and leaflets about the scheme can be found in health and leisure centres, chemists, shops and with local agencies.
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