Help to prevent falls

Health checks including regular eyesight and hearing tests, medication reviews and foot care can all help prevent falls.

Strengthening muscles and improving balance and coordination is one of the simplest and most effective things we can do to help prevent falls.

Simple changes can the reduce risks of falls. Check these areas of your home:

Front access

• are paths, steps, patios even and maintained?
• are handrails needed?
• is the doorway clear and free of obstacles?

Stairs and landing

• are these areas clear of clutter, well lit, with maintained carpet or flooring?
• do they require handrails for support?

Rooms and hallways

• are the carpets in good condition?
• are rugs secure and not a trip hazard?
• are walkways clear and trip-free (no cables, wires, leads, books, other clutter)?
• can you get past furniture or does it need moving so it’s not in the way?

Bathroom and kitchen

• are floors slip-resistant?
• are grab rails needed?
• are floors clear of leakages or wet areas?
• are items stored within reach?

Room temperature and lightning 

• is the temperature comfortable (ideally between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius)?
• is the room well-lit with no dark areas?
• is there any sign of damp or mould or signs of underheating?

To achieve a comfortable temperature and well-lit room, you may wish to consider retrofitting your home with:

• double or triple glazing
• draught proofing
• energy efficient LED lighting
• flexible heating controls such as a thermostat, timer, or thermostatic radiator valve
• thick curtains or window shutters to retain heat

Solihull Community Housing offer a free Home Hazard Check and can provide low level equipment to reduce the risk of falls.

If you or someone you know is at risk of falls, we recommend you make a plan. This can help prevent falls and make sure you know what to do if someone has a fall.

A good falls plan may look like this:

Step 1: Calling for help

• choose a reliable method, such as a mobile phone, landline or personal alarm
• keep devices charged and within close reach
• share emergency contact numbers with trusted individuals

Step 2: Using alarms

• consider a community (personal) alarm system, such as the Safe and Sound pendant alarm
• understand setup and monthly monitoring costs
• consider responders (the people who can come if you activate your alarm)

Step 3: Letting help in

• leave a spare key with a trusted person
• use a key safe with a shared code

Friends, family and health professionals, such as your GP, can all provide help and support to make sure it doesn’t happen again, or refer you to the Falls Team.

You can also request an occupational therapy assessment. This will identify and address falls risks in your home and identify equipment that might help you to move safely around your home and in the community.

You can ask for help online using the link above. If you would rather speak to someone, you can contact our adult social care team by:

• email: ccadults@solihull.gov.uk
• phone: 0121 704 8007 (weekdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm, except Wednesdays when we open at 10:00am)

Even near misses, loss of balance and trips are important warning signs. If you are worried about someone else, encourage them to get advice, help and support to reduce their risk of falling.