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Falls Awareness Week 18th-22nd September 2023


'Falls Awareness Week’ represents a national campaign with the aim of increasing awareness around falls, health promotion and injury prevention.

 

So, What Do We Know?

Falls prevention and management remains a key issue in the improvement of the health and wellbeing amongst our older people, as falls represent ‘a major cause of injury disability, morbidity and mortality’ (World Health Organisation: 2018). Globally, falls represent a major public health concern and remain the second most common cause of unintentional injury and death.

 


Approximately 28-35% of people aged 65 years and over fall each year increasing to between 32-42% for those over 70 years of age.

  • People aged 65 years and older have the highest risk of falling, with 30% of people older than 65 and 50% of people older than 80 years, falling at least once a year (NICE 2013)
  • A history of falls in the past year is the single most important risk factor for falls and is a predictor of further falls (NICE 2017)
  • In the UK, falls-related injuries are the most common cause of death in people over the age of 75 years.
  • Patients who fall and fracture their hip in hospital are the ‘oldest and the frailest’ (RCP, NAIF 2020)
  • Falls are the most frequently reported incident affecting hospital inpatients.
  • Patients are at higher risk of falls as they recover from their acute episode and prepare for discharge.
  • Ward / hospital transfer increases the risk of falls.
  • Patients with higher dependency have an increased risk of falls

 

‘Falls is everyone’s responsibility so lets collectively make a difference, create our vision and define our mission for the future’. 
 


Let’s also use this opportunity to embark on the ‘The Bigger Conversations’!

Falls is not just about our older population intergeneration falls awareness is key.

Let’s help our children to think about falling, consider the impact this could have on all, the understanding and support it would provide to reduce their risks of falling over and that of others and to think about how they can remain healthy into the future!



 

The book ‘Stumble Crumble’ is on its way!

It’s a story that has been developed by the children, whilst seeing falls through their eyes.                                 

The book has been developed in support of intergenerational falls awareness providing an opportunity for our children and older population to read and learn together to highlight the risks of falls and how they can be reduced. It explores the factors which contribute to falls and the many interventions and professionals that support falls reduction. Support and raising awareness are key.

Engaging our children and young people in supporting the delivery of key messages has been achieved through a process of fun with learning. The aim of the book is to help promote a bigger conversation posing the questions around what are the risks that contribute to falls and what are the actions that we can do together to ensure a heathier life for all.