How to prevent or manage a fall
Tips to prevent falls
- Keep as active as you can. Avoid sitting for longer than 30 minutes. Exercise to build up strength in the muscles and improve balance can help, but needs to be carried out regularly to be of benefit. Discuss with a healthcare professional regarding the most appropriate exercise regime for you to reduce your risk of falling.
- Take care when you first stand up. If you experience any episodes of dizziness, contact your GP.
- Keep your rooms and stairs free from clutter. Remove any loose rugs and secure trailing wires.
- Ensure all areas of your home, including external pathways and garden, are well lit.
- Wear low heeled, well fitting shoes and slippers. Try and arrange to visit a podiatrist or chiropodist regularly.
- Have your medication reviewed every 12 months. Mixing alcohol with medication can lead to an increased risk of falls. Do not mix alcohol with medication unless your pharmacist or doctor has told you it is safe to do so. Always take your medication as prescribed and let your doctor know if you have any concerns about your medication.
- Ensure you drink plenty of fluid, at least 6 to 8 cups or glasses every day to prevent dehydration, unless you have been advised otherwise by a healthcare professional.
- Ensure you eat a balanced diet, including foods rich in calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones. Avoid skipping meals.
- Ensure you have an eye test every 12 months, or sooner if there is any deterioration in your eyesight. Report any sudden deterioration in your eyesight to your GP.
If you have a fall
The first thing you should do if you have a fall is to rest for a few minutes, take some deep breaths, and give yourself a chance to recover from the shock of falling. Then you can plan what to do next.
If you are not hurt and able to get up
If you are not hurt and able to get up
-
- Roll onto your hands and knees and crawl to a stable piece of furniture such as a bed or sofa that you can use to help you. To avoid discomfort, place something soft under your knees such as a cushion or towel nearby.
- Holding onto the support with both hands, place one foot flat on the floor bending your knee in front of your body.
- Push down onto your front foot as you steady yourself with your hands on the support and rise into standing.
- Turn around slowly and sit down to rest on the seat.
- Tell your GP that you have fallen.
If you are unable to get up
If you are unable to get up
-
- To call for help, use your pendant alarm, wrist alarm or mobile phone if you have one, or use your warden pull cord if you have one and can reach it easily and safely. If not, attract attention by shouting for help and/or banging on the wall or floor.
- Try to keep warm, if you are on a hard or cold surface, try to reach for something soft to place underneath you such as clothing, a blanket, towel or mat.
- Try to cover yourself, including your legs and feet, this will help to protect you from the cold and make you more comfortable.
- Change your position regularly if you are able to and are not hurt, as this can help the circulation, improve comfort and reduce the risk of pressure problems.
- Being on the floor for a long time can cause other health problems. It is important to have a plan to get help if you fall and cannot get up, discuss with your healthcare professional and family.
- To call for help, use your pendant alarm, wrist alarm or mobile phone if you have one, or use your warden pull cord if you have one and can reach it easily and safely. If not, attract attention by shouting for help and/or banging on the wall or floor.
Contact information
Contact information
There are many people who may help to reduce your risk of falling. Here are some of the organisations who can support you:
- Access Bus: Full accessible door to door transport for anyone unable to use public transport. Call on 0113 348 1900
- Adult Social Care: Call on 0113 222 4401
- Age UK: Charity for older people, providing information and advice. They can offer health and wellbeing support, advocacy, hospital to home and help at home support.
- Phone: 0113 389 3000
- Age UK website
- Care and Repair (Homeplus) Leeds: They can survey a home for hazards and carry out minor adaptations such as fitting of rails to reduce the risk of falling in and around the home.
- Phone: 0113 240 6009
- Care Repair Leeds
- Leeds Directory provides information on falls prevention and management, including services that can potentially support reducing a person’s falls risk.
- Neighbourhood Network Schemes (via Older People’s forum): Voluntary sector organisations that provide a range of services and activities for older people across Leeds.
- Contact NHS 111 by dialling 111 or online at NHS 111 website,
for urgent medical help and advice that isn’t an emergency. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. - Telecare: An emergency alarm system provided by pressing a pendant alarm or wrist alarm which enables people to summon assistance in the event of a fall. Call via 0113 378 3290
- West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service:
For a free home fire safety check (smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors). Call 0800 587 4536 - William Merritt Disabled Living Centre: Impartial information and advice and free assessments on a wide range of disability equipment. Call on 0113 350 8989
