Falls and frailty prevention
Our risk of falling often increases as we get older and most falls occur during everyday activities, such as getting in and out of the bath or changing a light bulb.
There are ways you can reduce your risk of having a fall, including making simple changes to your home and doing regular exercises to improve your strength and balance.
Important: If you have had a fall in the past 12 months, please contact your GP to discuss this. You can also speak to Age UK's Falls Prevention Service, which assists people over 65 years old who are at risk of falling in their home.
Hillingdon offers a free programme to support residents in staying strong and reducing their risk of falls, this includes:
Falls prevention workshop
Throughout the year we will be holding a series of fall prevention workshops.
The sessions are free and aim to:
- help reduce the risk of falling through identifying the risks that could affect you.
- share actions that you can take to reduce these risks.
At each session a falls prevention toolkit will be handed out. Please book by emailing sdurner@hillingdon.gov.uk or ringing 01895 277 137.
Self assessment tool: reducing trips, slips and falls
We have introduced a new assessment tool to help residents better understand their risk of falling and take action to help prevent falls.
Use our Falls prevention self risk assessment (PDF, 913 KB) to:
- identify the risks that could affect you (Section 1: What is my risk?) and
- find ways to reduce your risk of falling by making small practical changes (Section 2: My action plan).
Exercise programme
Face to Face exercise classes
The council offers two 12-week programmes for free to support residents in building strength and reducing falls, this includes:
- A seated exercise programme: 12-week programme (PDF, 69 KB) of chair-based exercise suitable for residents who are less mobile
- A strength and balance programme: 12-week programme (PDF, 127 KB) of a standing 45 minute class to work on strength and balance
For anyone unable to complete the online form please ring: 01895 556 688.
Free exercise videos to do at home
Available to download soon, videos will include six 10-minute warmups, six seated exercise sessions and six strength and balance sessions. Each exercise session is 20 minutes.
Please note: paid follow-on classes are available following the 12-week free programme. Speak to your exercise instructor to find out more.
Side effects of medication
Sometimes taking 4 or more medicines cause side effects, which may increase the risk of falling. If you are worried about any side effects of the medication you are taking, please contact your GP or pharmacist to discuss this.