Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is holding a number of events across the district next week to ask people to focus on preventing falls.

The events, which are part of the wider ‘older people’s fortnight’ in Bradford, will focus on reducing the risk of falling by giving home, visual and foot health advice. The theme of this years’ falls awareness week is “falls free home.”

The Care Trust has teamed up with Age UK, Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Fire Service, the National Osteoporosis Society and local charity HALE, to provide advice and information across the events which take place on 26 September 2016 at Saltaire Methodist Church 1.00pm until 3.00pm,  27 September at Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley 11.00am until 2.00pm and 28 September 2016 at Khidmat Centre, Bradford, 11.00am until 12.30pm for ladies and 2.00pm until 3.30pm for men.

Stephen Pugh, Falls Physical Activity Co-ordinator at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, said “one in three people over the age of 65 and half of people over 80 fall at least once a year, we want to provide people with information and advice to try and reduce this number.”

Linda Tomlinson, Occupational Therapist and Lead for Older People’s Mental Health Services at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust said:  ‘”occupational therapists work with adults who have fallen or are at risk of falling. We work collaboratively with other health professionals in the community, providing assessments, recommendations and interventions to help prevent and manage falls.’

A strength and balance exercise class demonstration will take place at 2.00pm on 26 September and exercise and balance demonstrations will take place at 11.30am and 2.30pm on 28 September.

ENDS