Falls Awareness Week 2013
Monday 17 – Friday 21 June 2013
Age UK Burton along with its partners will be holding a Falls Prevention Stall on Wednesday 19th June (Uttoxeter Market) and Friday 21st June (Burton Market) as part of Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week 2013. The aim is get people to put their ‘best foot forward’ by keeping their feet healthy to prevent falls in later life. As well as keeping feet in good shape, the event will show that there are a whole range of simple things that can reduce the risk of a fall.
Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week 2013 will highlight how important it is for everyone to keep their feet healthy in order to maintain mobility and independence throughout life. Foot conditions can result in foot pain, which in turn can cause problems with balance, walking and sensation in the feet – all of which can lead to falls. With around 30% of over-65s and 50% of those aged over 80 falling every year, Age UK is calling on older people to attend local activities during Falls Awareness Week to learn how to prevent falls and keep feet healthy all year round.
Age UK Burton along with partners, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Stoke and Staffordshire Partnership Trust, and Trent and Dove Housing will be holding its Falls Awareness Week event at Uttoxeter Markets on Wednesday 19th June from 10am to 3pm and Burton Markets on Friday 21st June from 10am to 3pm, which will offer free information, advice and guidance on staying safe in your home and free items to help you. Residents and practitioners from across East Staffordshire are invited to join in to find out what they can do to help prevent falls and improve later life.
Councillor Bernard Peters, Deputy Leader for Service Commissioning, said:
“The Falls Prevention Stalls are part of a wider project called Let’s Work Together, which is about helping elderly and vulnerable people live healthy and independent lives. It is great to see some many public services working together to support our local residents”
Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director General at Age UK, said: “Foot pain and falls are not inevitable as we get older. There are lots of things that we can do to help prevent falls and keep our feet healthy throughout life – from simply having regular foot checks to wearing well-fitting shoes. During the Week, people will be able to find out more about how to look after their feet and how to do simple exercises that could help prevent falls.
“Events such as this are held in support of Falls Awareness Week are crucial in helping everyone understand how to reduce the risk of falling and how to maintain mobility and independence as we grow older.”
During Falls Awareness Week Age UK will be supporting events across the country highlighting how important it is to look after your feet, as well as the benefits of staying active in later life. To download Age UK’s free ‘Staying Steady’ and ‘Healthy Living’ guides, and to find out more information about Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week 2013 and what’s happening in your local area, visit www.ageuk.org.uk/falls or call 0800 169 6565.
