Andover Neighbourcare Home Page.
A local charity that has been helping the Senior Citizens for over 27 years in Andover and surrounding areas. Andover Neighbourcare assists those in genuine need in the local community by providing support to maintain their independence.
Last updated: Wednesday October 9th 2024
Next update by November 6th 2024
The Community Shop will be opening from 9am until 4am Monday to Saturday
Photo by Katie Drazdauskaite on Unsplash
Fall prevention for the elderly
Take care when you're out and about
Anyone can have a fall, but older people are more vulnerable and likely to fall, especially if they have a long-term health condition.
Falls are a common, but often overlooked, cause of injury. Around 1 in 3 adults over 65 and half of people over 80 will have at least one fall a year.
Most falls do not result in serious injury. But there's always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones,and it can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn, and feel as if they have lost their independence
What should I do if Ifall?
If you have a fall, it's important to keep calm. If you're not hurt and you feel strong enough to get up, do not get up quickly.
Roll onto your hands and knees and look for a stable piece of furniture, such as a chair or bed.
Hold on to the furniture with both hands to support yourself and, when you feel ready, slowly get up. Sit down and rest for a while before carrying on with your daily activities.
If you're hurt or unable to get up, try to get someone's attention by calling out for help, banging on the wall or floor, or using your personal alarm or security system(if you have one). If possible, crawl to a telephone and dial 999 to ask for an ambulance.
Try to reach some thing warm, such as a blanket or dressing gown, to put over you, particularly your legs and feet.
Stay as comfortable as possible and try to change your position at least once every half an hour or so.
You may want to get a personal alarm system so that you can signal for help in the event of a fall.
An alternative would be to always keep a mobile phone in your pocket so you can phone for help after having a fall.
What causes a fall?
The natural ageing process means that older people have an increased risk of having a fall.
Older people are more likely to have a fall because they may have:
- balance problems and muscle weakness
- vision loss
- a long-term health condition, such as heart disease,dementia or low blood pressure (hypotension), which can lead to dizziness and a brief loss of consciousness
A fall is also more likely to happen if:
- floors are wet, such as in the bathroom, or recently polished
- the lighting in the room is dim
- rugs or carpets are not properly secured
- the person reaches for storage areas, such as a cupboard, or is going downstairs
- the person is rushing to get to the toilet during the day or at night
Another common cause of falls, particularly among older men, is falling from a ladder while carrying out home maintenance work.
In older people, falls can be particularly problematic because osteoporosis is a fairly common problem.
It can develop in both men and women, particularly in people who smoke, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, take steroid medicine, or have a family history of hip fractures.
But older women are most at risk because osteoporosis is often associated with the hormonal changes that occur during themenopause.
Preventing a fall
Prevention
There are ways you can reduce your risk of having a fall, including making simple changes to your home and doing exercises to improve your strength and balance.
If you have fallen in the past,making changes to reduce your chances of having a fall can also help you overcome any fear of falling.
Some older people may be reluctant to seek help and advice from a GP and other support services about preventing falls because they believe their concerns will not be taken seriously.
But all health care professionals take falls in older people very seriously because of the significant impact they can have on a person's health.
Discuss any falls you have had with a GP and say if it's had any impact on your health and wellbeing.
The GP can carry out some simple balance tests to check whether you're at an increased risk of falling in the future. They can also refer you to useful services in your local area.
Avoiding falls at home
Tipsfor preventing falls in the home include:
- immediately mopping up spillages
- removing clutter, trailing wires and frayed carpet
- using non-slip mats and rugs
- making sure all rooms, passages and staircases are well lit
- organising your home so that climbing, stretching and bending are kept to a minimum, and to avoid bumping into things
- getting help to do things you're unable to do safely on your own
- not walking on slippery floors in socks or tights
- not wearing loose-fitting, trailing clothes that might trip you up
- wearing well-fitting shoes that are in good condition and support the ankle
- taking care of your feet by trimming your toenails regularly and seeing a GP or podiatrist (foot health professional) about any foot problems.
- Taken from NHS website
The Neighbourcare Telephone Buddie Scheme was set up during the pandemic. Over 1000 people were contacted by telephone to check that they had the appropriate help that they required. 400 people during this time had regular telephone calls and prescriptions were also collected on their behalf. Most of these people are still receiving this assistance and this service is still ongoing. To obtain a Buddie, please call 01264 339899 and ask for Pam.
Community Shop
The Neighbourcare community shop has now been open for over 20 years. It is very well supported by the people of Andover and the local area.The aim of the shop was always different to that of other charity shops by putting any profits directly back into Andover's Community. Anyone visiting the shop can expect a friendly and warm welcome from all staff and volunteers. Donations of all types are welcome including clothes (please ensure these are freshly laundered), toys, books, music and household items provided they are in good saleable condition. Donations can be collected and small items of furniture are acceptable. At the present time we are unable to accept electrical items. Donations cannot be taken on a Wednesday.
Please call 01264 404142 for further information.
Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash
Andover Neighbourcare is a local charity providing a wealth of services to the local and wider community.We offer help with Transport, Shopping, Cleaning, Gardening, Relieving carers and much much more. More information about Andover Neighbourcare, our staff, volunteers, services, members and community shop can be found by simply clicking the relevant button in the menu on the top of this page. MEMBERSHIP SCHEME - Our membership scheme cost just £35 a year per person. Membership benefits include up to date information with what's happening at Andover Neighbourcare, parties, events and Mini Bus Trips. Please use the contact form to register your interest, pop in to the offices or call 01264 404142.
Andover Neighbourcare has been asked about how people can donate on line to the charity. You can donate cash by going to localgiving.org/charity/andover-neighbourcare. Cheque donations can be sent to 12 Union Street made payable to Andover Neighbourcare. Cash donations can also be made at the office for which you will be listed as a friend of Neighbourcare. Donations for the charity shop can be collected if needed. Or if you only wish to give your time to help on any of the schemes we run please contact the office. Many thanks for your support.
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