Falling over in your home can not only injure your limbs but your confidence too.

For some people, a fall can not only cause physical harm but affect them psychologically, leaving them unwilling to leave their home.

Every year in the UK, around a third adults aged over 65 and living at home fall - equivalent to more than three million people - and half of people aged over 80 are likely to experience a fall at least once a year. In Bradford and Airedale this equates to more than 25,000 individuals. Across the Bradford district there are an estimated 2600 fragility fractures and 450 hip fractures every year.

This can have a marked effect upon them, and can affect their independence.

Falls are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people and significantly impact on long term outcomes; they are a major trigger for people moving from their own home to long-term nursing or residential care. Even after recovery, many people who have suffered falls lose confidence in their daily lives and are afraid to go out.

Bradford District Care Trust’s Falls Prevention Team runs a service to help prevent falls among those at risk. It helps people to take steps to reduce the number and severity of falls.

“With falls, there are hundreds of risk factors,” says Stephen Pugh, physical activity coordinator for falls prevention with Bradford District Care Trust (BDCT).

"You cannot pin it down to any one thing.

"Hazards in the home are a major cause and we ask people to check for things like rugs or electrical wires that they could easily trip over. Simple steps such as cleaning up spills as soon as they happen can have a big impact."

He adds: "These are the sorts of things that lead to accidents in the home and they can be easily remedied.”

In addition, the team provides a falls prevention exercise service. Available in north Bradford, it gives people the chance to take part in a 16-week exercise and educational programme that aims to reduce their risk of falling.

Tom Greenwood, 96, from Cottingley Bridge, is taking part in the programme. After dislocating his shoulder at home, his doctor referred him to the service to help him build up strength.

“I really enjoy attending the sessions as it gets me out of the house and interacting with people," he says.

"Before I started I found it difficult to lift my arm but each week it gets stronger and stronger as the exercise progressively gets harder, plus you are able to do the exercises at home. Since beginning the programme I have gained enough strength to complete chores at home.”

Stephen leads the group.

“The atmosphere is great and everyone spurs each other on,” he says.

“I love teaching this group and it’s great to see the positive impact the falls prevention programme has on people’s mobility and social interaction.

“Watching people improve their strength and balance over the 16-week programme and seeing them become more confident to do everyday tasks is wonderful.”

Two members of the team are trained in delivering the special Otago falls prevention exercise programme.

“We do seated balance exercises, some standing and we educate around accident prevention such as choosing the correct footwear, keeping up-to-date with eye sight tests, advice around medication and removing any hazards such as rugs from the home,” says Bradford District Care Trust’s falls coordinator Sharon Bond.

“With footwear, people generally have decent outdoor shoes, but wear sloppy slippers inside which can cause instability.”

Outside north Bradford people can access physiotherapy for balance and walking through their GP.

The team - which works in partnership with other organisations that can help to prevent falling - holds events and speaks to groups across the district, raising awareness and passing on useful information.

If you have had a fall or are at risk of falling in the future the service can assess patients in their own home. This is carried out by a community nurse and looks at the key risk factors that can contribute towards a fall. They also issue advice.

The falls team advocate the ‘safe and sound’ system, which puts a person in contact with a response team if anything should happen at home such as a fall. Overseen by Bradford Council’s social care team, it involves the use of a pendant with a button which the wearer can press in emergencies to call for help.

  • For more information about the falls prevention service visit bdct.nhs/falls or ring 01274 322184.