Accidental falls

Accidental falls are common amongst people of all ages, but older people are at a higher risk of falling, especially if they have pre-existing health conditions or take certain medication.

Some of the biggest risk factors linked to older people falling are:

  • Poor vision
  • Problems with balance
  • Infections which can cause extreme fevers (i.e. UTI’s)
  • Dehydration
  • Living with long-term health condition(s)
  • Medication side effects
  • Home environment risks – such as loose rugs, stairs, slippery floors, baths

In most cases a fallen older person will be uninjured, and they just need assistance in getting back on their feet. The time a person spends on the floor, awaiting help, is critical in aiding a speedy and full recovery. The less time that can be spent on the floor will often result in a much improved outcome for the person – both physically and emotionally.

Around 1 in 3 adults over the age of 65 who live at home will have at least one fall a year. Around half of these will have falls on a more frequent basis.

Although most falls do not result in serious injury, there is a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones or can cause a person to lose confidence – so getting help to them quickly is key to minimising post-fall complications.

How Carecall can help

Carecall offers people living in Stockport a 24/7/365 Falls Response Service for just £3 extra per week, on top of our monitoring only offer.

This additional cover means that if a person falls at home, but is not injured, a fully-trained mobile responder will visit to help them back to their feet! They will use accredited triaging processes to ensure it is safe to move them and, if it is, they will use specially designed lifting equipment to help them up without putting them at risk of further injury.

With an average response time of just 22 minutes and more than 99.5% of falls being attended within the hour, you can rest assured that Carecall will be there quickly, in an emergency. Carecall attend upwards of 5,000 home-visits per year and are dedicated to getting their customers the help they need, as quickly as possible.

In the event a person is injured and needs medical assistance, Carecall will contact Emergency Services and pass on all relevant details to help the Ambulance Service categorise the right response.

Call us today on 0161 218 1655 to discuss how our Falls Response Service can with concerns about falling. You can also find out about exercise classes specifically designed to help older people in Stockport to improve their strength and balance.