6. To avoid falls at home, you should ensure you mop up spillages and remove clutter, trailing wires and frayed carpet. Use non-slip mats and rugs. 7. If possible, keep items within easy reach to avoid climbing, bending and stretching. 8. Ensure your shoes and slippers fit well and have your toenails cut regularly. 9. Stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause you to feel sleepy and unsteady on your feet. 10. Keep active. Doing regular strength and balance exercises can reduce your risk of having a fall. This can take the form of simple activities, such as walking and dancing, or specialist training programmes (see ‘staying active’ section on page 12). 11. Consider buying some simple equipment or making some minor adaptations to your home (see the ‘Home adaptations’ section below for more information). Stoke-on-Trent Revival will carry out home hazard checks to reduce the chance of falls in your home. A trained assessor will visit your home to check for hazards like loose stair carpets, unsafe rugs or mats and will also look at cooking and bathing safety. These checks are free, but you will need to pay for any materials. Tel: 0333 014 3389 Email: hello@thisisrevival.org.uk Web: www.thisisrevival.org.uk Age UK Staffordshire runs an Ageing Well Programme for men and women aged over 50 in
Stoke-on-Trent to prevent falls by improving your strength and balance. For more information, contact the Ageing Well Team below. Tel: 01785 788477 Email: info@ageukstaffordshire.org.uk Web: www.ageuk.org.uk/staffordshire The Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust runs a Falls Prevention Service. The Specialist Falls Team, covering North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, helps those who have already fallen, may fall or who are at risk of serious injury, such as broken bones. The Falls Prevention Team, covering South Staffordshire, is available for people over 65 and aims to increase awareness and prevent falls for those at risk of falling or who are at risk of serious injury, such as broken bones. North Falls Service Burslem Health Centre Chapel Lane ST6 2AB Tel: 0300 123 0995 (ext. 4422). South Falls Service Salter Meadow Health Centre Rugeley Road, Burntwood WS7 1AQ Tel: 01543 492490 Email: southfallsteam@nhs.net Staffordshire Use the link below to access the Staffordshire County Council Home Safety Checklist. Web: www.staffordshire.gov.uk (search ‘home safety checklist’).
Home adaptations By law, minor adaptations costing £1,000 or less must be paid for by the Council if you have eligible needs. For changes costing more than £1,000, a financial assessment might be carried out to see what you can afford to pay towards the cost. In most cases, making simple changes to your home can help make life easier. Equipment can help you to remain independent and keep you safe. See examples of simple adaptations you can make beginning on page 21. Adaptations to Council housing Stoke-on-Trent City Council can provide adaptions
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for tenants with a disability who live in Council housing (tenants living in other types of housing may be eligible for assistance through Disabled Facilities Grants – see page 19). Requests for aids and adaptations can be considered if you, your partner or a member of your immediate family is the tenant and is a permanent resident in the household. A person is regarded as being disabled if they have a physical, sensory or mental impairment, which has a substantial and longterm effect on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities within their home.
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