A SCHEME to help reduce the risks to older people of falling, and how to cope with a fall, was launched in Wrexham this week.
Members of the North East Wales NHS Trust's Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Services were at the launch of a new advice leaflet.
The launch was part of the Keep Well this Winter exhibition that is being held in the Memorial Hall, Wrexham.
The leaflet has been produced under the auspices of the Wrexham Health Alliance's Accident Prevention Group which brings together the Council's Housing and Environmental Services, the Welsh Public Health Service, North Wales Fire Service, Care and Repair and the Trust.
The Group has been established to work in partnership to reduce the number of accidents and injuries to older people within their own homes.
A range of measures have been implemented which are designed to help older people reduce the risks of falling. As well as the leaflet, these include general health promotion activity, advice on disability and mobility issues, early identification of those susceptible to falling and balance training programmes.
The leaflet will be circulated to health centres, leisure centres, residential homes and luncheon clubs, and will also be used by the Fire Service when advising on domestic fire and general safety.
Personal safety, and the avoidance of accidents, is one of the three key themes of the Keep Well initiative, along with advice on health matters and guidance on keeping warm. The Memorial Hall event will include a wide range of health and social care organisations, charitable bodies and the commercial sector. They will be providing advice for older people on a wide range of issues including home security, safety advice, winter eating, flu vaccination, benefits advice and measures to improve home insulation.
