Falls prevention
Our risk of falling often increases as we get older and most falls occur during everyday activities, such as getting in and out of the bath or changing a light bulb.
There are ways you can reduce your risk of having a fall, including making simple changes to your home and doing regular exercises to improve your strength and balance.
Important: If you have had a fall in the past 12 months, please contact your GP to discuss this. You can also speak to Age UK's Falls Prevention Service, which assists people over 65 years old who are at risk of falling in their home.
Reducing trips, slips and falls
We have introduced a new assessment tool to help residents better understand their risk of falling and take action to help prevent falls.
Use our Falls prevention self risk assessment (PDF) [913KB] to:
- identify the risks that could affect you (Section 1: What is my risk?) and
- find ways to reduce your risk of falling by making small practical changes (Section 2: My action plan).
Strength and balance exercise programme
These sessions are designed to help residents stay strong and are aimed at anyone who would like to feel steadier on their feet, retain their mobility and/or reduce their risk of falling.
These sessions are available in various locations:
- Uxbridge Library
- Oak Farm Library
- Ruislip Manor Library (Dementia Friendly session)
- Ruislip Manor Library
- The Stables (Ruislip)
- Fairfield Church
- Michael Shersby
- Roberts Close
View upcoming strength and balance sessions
We also have a range of chair-based sessions with our popular Chairobics classes for residents who prefer seated exercise.
Side effects of medication
Sometimes taking 4 or more medicines cause side effects, which may increase the risk of falling. If you are worried about any side effects of the medication you are taking, please contact your GP or pharmacist to discuss this.
Falls prevention workshop
Throughout the year we will be holding a series of fall prevention workshops.
The sessions are free and aim to:
- help reduce the risk of falling through identifying the risks that could affect you.
- share actions that you can take to reduce these risks.
At each session a falls prevention toolkit will be handed out. Please book by emailing sdurner@hillingdon.gov.uk or ringing 01895 277 137.