Falls Service Support and Information
See below for information and advice regarding the following topics:
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Help to reduce your risk of falling
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Information if you are a carer or family member
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Useful links
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Other related services in Banes
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What can you do to help reduce your risk of falling?
There are a number of things you can try to improve your balance, mobility and confidence, which may help to reduce any risk of falling. The following information and advice may be of help. Please do speak to a member of the team if you have any questions about the information:
Mobility and Exercise
- General physical activity guidelines (physical activity guidelines)
- Getting in and out of bed safely and effectively: Getting in and out of bed leaflet 2022
- Getting in and out of a chair safely and effectively: Getting out of a chair 2022
It can be very useful to keep a ‘falls diary’ which can help to show any patterns with falling. Please bring this to your appointment at the Falls Clinic. Falls Diary 2022
Footwear
Find some tips here on looking after your feet (Looking after your feet 2022)
Home Safety
These information leaflets and a simple home self assessment checklist, may help to reduce any risk of falling:
Confidence
Anxiety and a fear of falling over is very common after experiencing a fall but an ongoing fear of falling can stop people enjoying life. It can create worry and lead people to stop doing their normal activities and to stay at home more. A reduction in activity can lead to a loss of muscle strength, which may then lead to further falls.
This leaflet may give you some ways to help increase your confidence and activity: Fear of Falling leaflet 2022
If you do fall, here is some information about how to move and get up from the floor safely, plus what to do if you are injured: Getting up from the floor 2022
Eating well and keeping hydrated
- Food first leaflets (bapen.org.uk)
Vision and Hearing
Aids and Adaptations
The Independent Living Centre has some useful guides on purchasing equipment:
Health Conditions
Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis:
- Osteoarthritis – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Osteoporosis – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Information and support – Osteoporosis and bone health | ROS (theros.org.uk)
- Osteoporosis support group (Bristol) – Bristol and District Support Group | ROS (theros.org.uk)
- Fact sheets about Osteoporosis – Royal Osteoporosis Society | Fact sheets and booklets (theros.org.uk)
- Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis fact sheet – (windows.net)
Blood pressure:
- High blood pressure (hypertension) – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension) – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Vision:
Diabetes:
Peripheral neuropathy:
Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation
- Vestibular rehabilitation information – Patient Information – ACPIVR
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) causes short episodes of vertigo (intense
dizziness) when you move your head in certain directions. It it thought to be caused by
tiny fragments of debris in the inner ear labyrinth. In many cases the condition clears
away on its own after several weeks. A simple treatment of moving the head into
various positions over a few minutes can cure the condition in many cases. This
treatment uses gravity to move the debris away from where it is causing problems. - Please read this information for further details: BPPV info leaflet
- Exercises for BPPV: bd-patient-handout
Bladder and Bowel
Provide information and support services for people experiencing problems with bladder and bowel control.
Home delivery of stoma and urology products and prescription medication.
Bladder and Bowel Community – Bullen Healthcare (bullens.com)
Smoking Cessation
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Carers and Family Members
- BaNES Carers Centre – (banescarerscentre.org.uk)
- We Care Home Improvements (wecr.org.uk)
- Making Space – Help with hoarding – (wecr.org.uk)
- Curo Independent Living Service – Bath based home support for older people. – Curo Group (curo-group.co.uk)
- Sirona Telecare Service -for community alarms and other assistive devices including memory technology – http://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/services/assistivetechnology/
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Useful links
Age UK –
- Age UK provide good information about how to help reduce risks of falling (Avoiding a fall | Elderly fall prevention | Age UK)
- Examples of services run by Age UK BANES (Welcome to Age UK Bath & North East Somerset):
- Befriending (may not currently be offering face to face)
- Day clubs (currently ARE running!) – Bath, Midsomer Norton and Keynsham. Minibus collection and drop off. £22 charge for attending. Can be referred by a Health Care Professional or yourself.
- Community hot meals – £6.50 per lunch.
- Information and advice
- Footcare
- Activities and events – currently being updated. Previously offered things like walking football, gadget busters and walking groups.
- Useful contacts and links for services in and around BaNES (Local Directory (ageuk.org.uk)
NB – Please do visit the Age UK site as their information will be updated regularly and you will be able to find the most recent advice and support
Passport to Health/ Health Wise
https://bathneshealthandcare.nhs.uk/wellness/passport-to-health/#
- Foe people who are aged 16+
- You need to be registered with a GP in BANES
- Support for individuals with long term conditions e.g. hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity or low activity levels
- Assessments provided by trained and qualified exercise referral specialists
- 12 weeks of subsidised access to your local leisure centre for gym, swimming and/or fitness classes, weight loss support groups
- Referral through GP, Health Care Professional, or self-referral.
The Good Living Service
- A range of activities provided by St John’s Foundation (The Good Living service)
The Silver Line
Can offer:
- Conversation and friendship
- Info and support
- Local groups and services
- Refer people on to receive regular friendship calls
- Protect and support older people suffering abuse and neglect
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. For people aged 55 and over. Calls are free and confidential.
Talking Therapies
BANES Talking Therapies : Psychology in Bath & North East Somerset (awp.nhs.uk)
01225 675150 – self referral. Must be 16+ and registered with a BANES GP.
Upcoming courses available on their website e.g. coping with low mood and depression, introduction to mindfulness.
Local support: BANES Talking Therapies : Local Support (awp.nhs.uk)
Professional referral: BANES Talking Therapies : Professional Referral (awp.nhs.uk)
Driving and Mobility
The Driving and Mobility Centre West of England is here to help disabled and older people keep mobile and independent, and help those affected by medical conditions stay safe on the road. We have an expert team of Occupational Therapists and Driving Advisors that undertake comprehensive assessments of ability to drive a vehicle safely and in comfort – Home – Driving and Mobility
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