Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

To coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons today (Monday 1 October), health partners in Ceredigion are launching a new website that aims to raise awareness of the preventative actions older people can take to reduce the chances of falling. The partners include Aberystwyth University, Hywel Dda Health Board, Age Cymru Ceredigion, Public Health Wales, Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Services, Ceredigion Care and Repair and Ceredigion County Council. The website, Ceredigion Strategic Falls Group, has been designed to inform people of simple interventions an individual can take which could make a big difference in preventing them from falling. Things to consider include exercising to maintain strength, regular eye and hearing tests as well as wearing supportive footwear which can all be found on the website: http://www.aber.ac.uk/falls/ Dr Joanne Hudson, Head of the Department of Sport & Exercise Science at Aberystwyth University, explains, “Falls have ...

Hywel Dda Health Board | Avoiding a fall Ceredigion teams are joining forces during national Falls Awareness Week to help people avoid harm from suffering Hywel Dda Health Board, Age Cymru Ceredigion, Public Health Wales, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Services, Ceredigion Care and Repair, and Ceredigion County Council will be holding a networking event on Monday June 18. Every year, Age UK hosts Falls Awareness Week in order to promote the services and interventions that can help reduce the risk of falls and challenge the perception of falling being an inevitable part of ageing.

Hundreds of people may have reduced their risk of falling after attending a Camu ‘Mlaen, Step Forward, event. More than 500 people aged over 75, were invited to attend through two GP practices that hosted the events alongside Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda Health Board and voluntary sector organisations. Those who attended learned more about issues such as benefit entitlement and living independently, as well as simple measures they could undertake, such as having grab-rails installed at their home, or arranging for a foot care session. Camu 'Mlaen events have proven to help reduce the number of people being admitted to hospital accident and emergency units as a result of suffering a fall. Cllr Pat Jones, Executive Board Member for health and social care, said: “It is lovely to see so many people coming together to attend these events. Hopefully, they will have taken something valuable away with them, and will feel safer in their home and on their feet.”