MANY of Herefordshire’s elderly people fall at least once a year in their own homes, Herefordshire council reveal as a part of Falls Prevention Awareness Week.

Talk Community has launched a new online falls prevention resource, to coincide with Falls Prevention Awareness Week running from September 20-24.

The annual awareness week aims to highlight the different measures older people can take, to try and prevent themselves from having a fall.

Talk Community’s free online resource offers information, top tips and short films, which will help more people in Herefordshire to see what they can do to look after themselves and reduce their risk of falling, as they get older.

The top five tips to help you stay steady and prevent a fall are stay active, eat well and keep hydrated, remove trip hazards in your home and garden, always wear well fitted footwear, be aware of raised shop doorways, pavement changes and uneven surfaces and regularly review your medication and have your eyes and ears tested.

Councillor Felicity Norman, cabinet member for health and adult wellbeing, said: “It is estimated that 1 in 3 adults aged over 65, who live at home, will have at least one fall a year, with around half of these having more frequent falls. Although the majority of falls don’t result in serious injury, there’s always a risk that a fall could lead to medical complications, hospitalisation or loss of independence.

“The launch of the new Talk Community falls prevention resource is a great way to help more people stay healthy, active and independent for longer and gives families additional support to help older loved ones.”

To find out more about what you can do to help reduce your risk of falling, visit www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/falls