Essex helpline emergency falls service issues Winter advice
It says this a dangerous time of year for older and vulnerable people
People in Essex, who're at risk of falling, are being urged to prepare for Winter.
North East Essex Health & Well Being Alliance figures show:
• Falls are the most common cause of an injury-related death in people over 75
• 50% of people older than 80 fall at least once a year
• People aged over 65 and older have the highest risk of falling
It’s a statistic that Helpline 24/7, the falls ‘pick-up’ service for north Essex is all too familiar with – especially during the Winter months when the Helpline team see a rapid increase in the number of alarms activated by an older person who has fallen in their home or garden.
Helpline Monitoring & Response Service Manager, Nicola Cable, said: “In Winter, when it’s cold and damp, stiff joints or medical issues such as arthritis can be exacerbated and lead to an increased risk of falls.”
It recommends making the home safer, with no loose rugs and wearing shoes and slippers with grips, as well as keeping warm.
There's also a Slipper Swap Scheme, which will replace old slippers with safer ones,
Outside, the advice is to be careful on long grass, paths with weeds or ice on them and making sure any mobility equipment has been serviced and has working brakes.
Helpline’s users are not exclusively older people. Some have a physical disability or suffer from a chronic condition such as epilepsy or arthritis or are recovering from illness. Other customers are simply concerned for their personal safety and security, if they are perhaps prone to falls or have a condition such as dementia.
On behalf of the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEEICB), Helpline is also delivering the North East Essex Falls Service. This provides the ambulance service with an alternative referral route to redirect 999 calls, for non-injured and minor injury fallers, to Helpline.
For anyone concerned about an older or vulnerable person living on their own in north Essex, Helpline 24/7 can provide the support and reassurance needed, including throughout the Christmas and New Year period.