PRESS RELEASE - HELPING TO AVOID FALLS
Care & Repair Agencies in Wales are a key factor in helping older people avoid falls.
A report in the British Medical Journal on research into bone fracture prevention calls for a fresh approach, focusing on measures such as home safety improvements which help people at risk of fractures avoid falling.
The emphasis at present is on treating the bone disease osteoporosis but three-quarters of those people who have factures have not got osteoporosis.
Responding to the report Wendy Bourton, Care & Repair Cymru's Chief Executive said:
“Sometimes a serious injury can be prevented by quite small changes such as exchanging old, worn slippers for properly fitting slippers or by installing a grab-rail, replacing a dim light-bulb over the stairway with a brighter one or by securing loose carpet edges. There is a Care & Repair Agency in every County in Wales, all working to help older people stay safe, warm and secure in their homes.”
Care & Repair Cymru, has responded to the report by showing the important work local Care & Repair services in Wales are already undertaking in visiting older people in their homes, carrying out a Health Homes check, listening to what clients need to make their homes safer and carrying out repairs and adaptations to ensure that the risk of falling in the home is reduced.
A Care & Repair worker will advise clients on what can be done to avoid falling and will arrange for work to be carried out to make the client safer.
Each Care & Repair Agency in Wales is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the local authority. Some also receive funding from Local Health Boards. All such funders already recognise the importance of preventing falls by providing small works of repair or adaptation in addition to any medical intervention such as the treatment of osteoporosis.
Care & Repair Agencies can make sure that the risk of older people injuring themselves because of falls and then losing their independence as a result is prevented by:
Talking to the Older Person about their history of falls and reasons for falls including health issues,
Helping clients recognise risks and advise on how to avoid them,
Carrying out a Healthy-Homes Check, and
Helping the client to arrange for repair or adaptation work to be done,
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Note for editors
o Care and Repair Cymru is the national body for Wales which promotes, develops and supports Care & Repair Home Improvement Agency Services for older people
o Care & Repair Agencies exist to enable older and vulnerable owner-occupiers to remain in their own homes, within their own communities, living as independently as possible, through the improvement of their housing conditions and consequent improvement in their level of comfort, health and security. There are 22 Care & Repair Agencies across Wales.
For further information please contact:
Vera Brinkworth 029 20576286