Falls Awareness Week: 16-22 September 2024

Falls are NOT an inevitable part of growing old. Together, we can prevent trips and falls in older people in Wales.

Falls Awareness Week exists because most falls can be prevented with the right awareness.

Falls are not inevitable, but we must all take simple steps to ensure we are not at risk. Falls Awareness Week is about helping people see the risks so that they can take action. So, please share with your friends and family the resources below, as well as our top tips for reducing the risks.

Did you know?

Older fallers are amongst the top three reasons why an ambulance is called.
If you’ve fallen once, you are 50% more likely to fall again, with an escalating risk of injury.
A ‘long lie’ of 12 hours or more can seriously affect a person’s recovery from a fall.

Public Health Wales indicate that, annually up to 2026:

132,000 older people will fall more than once in their own home
8,100 will suffer a serious injury and end up in hospital
3,000 will need a hip replacement
1,500 will lose their independence in the 12 months following a fall
700 will sadly die within 12 months of having a fall

If we talk together about falls, we can reduce the chances of falling.

Top Tips to Avoid Falls

STAY ACTIVE — As we get older, our strength and balance can reduce. Exercises to improve muscle strength decrease your risk of falling.
CHECK MEDICATIONS — Certain medications can make you feel faint or dizzy and affect your balance.
EARS & EYES — Our eyesight and hearing change as we age and can lead to a trip or loss of balance.

YOUR HOME — Keeping an eye out for potential dangers can make your home a safer place.
FEET & SHOES — Problems with your feet or shoes can affect your balance.
BONE HEALTH — If you have weaker bones, they’re more likely to break if you fall over.

EAT WELL — Getting enough energy helps keep up strength and prevent falling over.
WALKING AIDS — If walking sticks or frames are old and need repairing, they can cause you to fall over.
DRINK FLUIDS — If you don’t drink enough, it’s likely that you’ll start to feel light-headed.

Euronwydd's Story

80-year-old Euronwydd, from North Cornelly, had a terrible accident at home when she fell down the stairs.

“They said I was going into kidney failure, that there were cracked ribs, and I had a punctured lung. I was bleeding inside, and they didn’t expect me to last the night. But I did!” With the amazing support of her family and the health professionals, Euronwydd has recovered much of her health and confidence.

Read her story

Spot the Hazards Game

Try our immersive game and see if you can spot all 13 trips hazards. There are many things that can cause us to lose balance and fall or trip, some may even surprise you.

Spot the hazards