Falls Prevention
Falls Prevention
As we age, we may start to find that we become a little unsteady or don't feel as strong as we used to. Other things can be happening at the same time, like more use of medications or eyesight changing. This can mean that we become more at risk of having a fall, which although for many people may not result in significant injury, it can mean that it will happen again.
We know that a third of people aged over 65 will fall every year. However, the good news is that falls are not an inevitable part of ageing, and many are preventable. This page will provide some information about how to reduce our risk of falls and where you can go if you are worried about falling.
Stay Steady Clinics
We know that sometimes people need a bit of support to be able to understand what the risk of falling is and how to take the steps needed to reduce that risk.
So in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan we have set up clinics, run by falls specialist physiotherapists, who can provide assessments and then advice on falls risk reduction.
These clinics are offered either face-to-face, by phone or a secure video link. To find out if these clinics would be suitable for you, answer the following questions:
1. Have you had a fall in the last year ? Yes/No
2. Do you need to use your hands to get up from a chair or ever feel unsteady on your feet? Yes/No
3. Does a fear of falling stop you taking part in activities or doing daily tasks? Yes/No
If you answered yes to any of these questions, the clinics may be a suitable service for you to get some advice. Just leave us your contact details on 029 2183 2552 or staysteady.cardiff@wales.nhs.uk and we will contact you within a few days.
If you answered no to all 3, you can make sure to keep your risks low by doing regular exercise, having good nutrition, ensuring you get regular eyesight checks and looking after your general health and wellbeing.
For more information, please have a look at the film and animation below.
Video Resources
Could you benefit from our Stay Steady Clinics?
Our Falls Framework: Reducing risk and harm sets out our approach for preventing falls.