This week is Falls Prevention Week and the theme is - From Awareness to Action.

Our Falls Prevention Team include Deborah Beaumont-Lorimer, Jenny Smith and Lisa Gray. The team are based within the Community Rehabilitation Team and work alongside our Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.

Part of their role is to deliver a strength and balance exercise programme at various locations every week. The session is called Finding Your Feet and the locations they cover include; Todmorden Health Centre, YMCA and The Salvation Army in Brighouse. These classes help participants not only improve their strength and balance, but also mobility and gives them the confidence to carry out everyday activities.

Lisa, Jenny and Deborah also complete Multi-Factorial Falls Assessments with patients in their own homes. This includes advice around; wearing the correct footwear, having regular eyesight checks and home environment checks to raise awareness of clutter and other items that could cause falls in the home.

One patient the team have been working with recently is Sally. They completed a Multi-Factorial Falls Assessment in her own home, which resulted in new grab-rails and a step being installed. Sally also attended the Finding Your Feet programme, and sent the team some lovely feedback after completing the course:

"I was unsure at first. Probably because I had to go out to the class and I didn’t feel, at that time, that I had the confidence to do it.

"However, I am amazed at how the exercises have helped me regain my independence. I no longer rely on my family, I am able to get out and about on my own. My confidence has improved and I have also started to attend other social events, which I wouldn’t have done before.

"I have also started baking again. I had stopped because I was unable to stand without having to hold onto something. Now I can stand for long periods of time without worrying about falling over or my legs giving way.”

If you have a patient who you believe would benefit from a home falls assessment or attending one of the Finding Your Feet programmes, you can refer them by email to: gatewaytocare@calderdale.gov.uk. Or contact one of our Falls Prevention Workers for more information.