The subject of old age, while not one that many relish to talk about, is certainly a worry lurking in the back of people’s minds.

Doubly so when you hear that a third of all people aged over 65 fall every year with 60 per cent of those accidents happening in the home – 25 per cent of which are as a result of hazards most related to everyday activities such as climbing the stairs or bathing.  However there are things you can do to minimise the risks.

It’s about being prepared and looking out for the first signs of age creeping up and just taking a few precautions to make life just that little easier in the home so you can maintain your independence and live life to the full.

Having a fall can be devastating. Between 10 to 15 per cent of falls result in a fracture for the elderly, which can lead, not only to complications, but also to a protracted recovery period, with an increased chance of falling again.

It’s important that people at risk, or their carers, do as much as they can to make a fall less likely by removing the unnecessary hazards and making sure they are as fit and healthy as possible.”

While health problems like diabetes and low blood pressure can increase the chances of falling because they cause balance problems and light-headedness, seeking medical help to stabilise medication is essential. Having a good diet and taking some form of exercise is also advisable.

With it being Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week this week (18-22 June), here at Premier Care in Bathing, we’d like to share a few practical tips to help people look out for the warning signs – and how to take steps to avoid falling in the first place.

• Arrange electrical appliances so that they are close to the socket, rather than having a long flex.
• Avoid rugs or make sure the edges are securely fixed, without curling edges to catch you.
• Be tidy – don’t leave things lying about where they can trip people up.
• Make sure halls and stairs in particular are brightly lit. You can mark the edges of steps with a high contrast adhesive strip, to make them more visible.
• Resist the temptation to hop up on a chair to lift something down, or to do jobs like changing lightbulbs or hanging curtains.
• Store those items that you use regularly within easy reach, and ideally, wait until there is somebody available to help you with anything out of the way.
• Remove low items like footrests or low tables.
• Take care when bathing – add grab rails to baths – and use them.  When the time comes, look into bathing solutions like showers with no steps/low level access or for walk-in baths.

Taking action is relatively easy – coping with the consequences of a fall is not.