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Reduce your risk of falls and increase safety awareness at home with helpful tips from Vicki Lightfoot of LCHS. Learn about summoning help, getting up off the floor, equipment safety, and more. Stay active, maintain balance, look after your feet, and be mindful of hazards in and around your home. Ask questions and get valuable advice on dizziness and measuring your blood pressure for overall wellness.
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Falls and you This session is designed to help reduce your risk of falls and increase awareness of your safety around your home. Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Summoning help • Have you a pendent alarm? • Have you any arrangements with neighbours if you are in trouble? • Have you a cordless phone? • Message in a bottle Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Getting up off the floor • Take a few minutes to compose yourself and decide if anything is painful. • If you can move try to move towards a chair or piece of furniture to give you a good solid surface. • Use the furniture to lean on to enable you to get onto your knees. • Finally get onto your feet or crawl to a phone for help. Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
If you can’t get up • Stay calm and try to change your position regularly as best you can to relieve pressure on your body. • If you are near a source of heat try to move away as quickly as you can. • If you need to pass water try to absorb the liquid or roll away from the wet area. Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Equipment • Have you been issued with any equipment? • When was it last checked to make sure it was safe? • Do you know how to use your equipment safely? • Are you struggling with any activities at the moment? Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Sight • Do you wear glasses and when did you last have your eyes tested? • Have you considered having higher wattage light bulbs to increase the light within your home. Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Medication • Are you on more than 5 types of medication? • Can you remember to take your medication? • Do you have difficulty getting your medication? • Have you seen your GP in the last 6 months? Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Keep Active • Try to maintain your level of mobility • Increase your strength and balance • Look after your bones • Eat healthily with a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Looking after your feet • Do you regularly attend to your feet or see a Chiropodist/Podiatrist? • Do you wear appropriate footwear in/outdoors? Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Hazards in the home • Remove all loose rugs and fix loose/frayed carpets. • Clear clutter from the floor. • Ensure electric cables are not trailing over the floor which could cause a fall. • Store everyday objects in easy to reach cupboards. Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
More hazards in the home • Be mindful of pets tripping you up. • Limit the times you go up/down stairs. • Can you reach your plug sockets and switches. • Can you reach to pick things up from the floor Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Outdoor Hazards • Are your paths wide enough for your mobility aid. • Do your plants restrict your access. • Do you have gravel or paved paths. • Can you bend down to tend to your boarder's. Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Stairs • Light up your stairs • Take care when carrying items up/down the stairs • Be careful when cleaning the stairs • Choose the pattern/colour of the carpet wisely • Do you wear bifocal lenses? • Use your handrails Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Any questions? Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS
Dizziness and blood pressure • Before you stand complete 30 seconds of ankle pumps and finger clinching to help dizziness. • When did you last have your blood pressure taken? Vicki Lightfoot - LCHS