18 Sep Keep active and make your chances of falling (plus many other health risks) fall

Health and wellbeing are at the very core of nearly everything we do at Torbay Communities.

Whether it be mental health or physical wellbeing, we support a series of initiatives to help with both, something that started with the seven-year Ageing Well programme that started in 2014.

These days, we work with all age groups, but the principles remain the same: our Community Builders seek out the most vulnerable in our neighbourhoods and work to prevent the lonely from becoming isolated.

The Torbay Community Helpline provides advice, guidance and signposting to those who can provide more specialist support from our partners in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector or the appropriate statutory authority.

Our Live Longer Better programme concentrates on delivering a series of talks, practical guidance and exercise programmes over several weeks, improving the lives of all who participate.

One of the key parts of the Live Longer Better programme is a session on falls prevention, an essential focus for keeping people safe and out of hospital. You can find out more details about these courses by contacting Jess Slade on 07772 023170 or emailing [email protected]

This week is National Falls Prevention Awareness Week, and having had the privilege of interviewing Jane Reddaway, the Falls Prevention Occupational Therapist for Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust, on Riviera FM’s Volunteer Show this week, I was shocked to learn that more than 700 causes of falls have been identified (tune in to 107.9FM or visit Riviera FM’s website, Tuesdays 10am-1pm to listen to David’s Volunteer Show)

Some are obvious, like worn soles on your shoes, a trip on uneven ground, or things left on the stairs, but the list goes on, yet nearly all are preventable with a bit of forethought.

Here are a few things to consider that I have taken from a press release issued to coincide with the annual initiative:

Did you know:

• Deconditioning is the process of losing physical strength through being ill, injured, or not active
• Movement is a treatment for many illnesses, and you may have experienced the early active recovery programmes that improve healing both physical and emotional
• 10 days in hospital = 10 years of physical ageing, which reduces your leg strength and your ability to exercise
• There is a 61% increase in levels of disability, bone loses strength and the risk of needing institutional care is increased by 5%
• All adults need 30 minutes of exercise a day where you are slightly out of breath to maintain your muscles and balance to manage everyday life. Over the age of 65, it is recommended by the Chief medical officer that two sessions of strength and balance are also included a week
• Increasing your activity helps reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, falls, dementia and many other illnesses

(Please note; that there are very few exceptions to this and you will be advised if there is a reason why you cannot get more active if you are a patient in hospital).

Dancing, gardening, walks, swimming, cycling, and even housework (yes, some people enjoy this) all can be counted towards your 30 minutes.  On your own, with a friend or a group of people, there are many options available.  Have a look at Active Devon’s website where there are many resources and contacts if you want some ideas to get more active

If you are recovering from an illness or operation and have been inactive for some time there is a great booklet called Get Up and Go, put together by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Saga which has some great tips and the Super Six exercises to get you going.  There is also a website if you are very unsteady and would like some individual ideas: www.steadyonyourfeet.org/devon If you follow this through you receive a personalised checklist of actions to take.

For those in later life wanting to keep healthy Healthy ageing and frailty – Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust have some information on the public website for you.

If you would like a copy of the booklet please contact 01803 219700.

So there you go, staying on your feet, staying healthy and keeping fit is good at any age, but once you reach 65 it becomes even more critical and in fact, you need to exercise more, not less. The quality of your life could well depend on it.