We can help you maintain your strength and balance and avoid falls. If you have already taken a fall we can help you to regain your mobility, confidence and independence
What can I do to prevent a fall?
There are ways you can reduce your risk of having a fall, by doing exercise to improve your strength and balance, as well as making simple changes to your home.
Good balance will help you to avoid falls. Increased strength in your legs will help you to get back up onto your feet if you are unlucky and have a trip or slip.
There are a number of self help resources and services across the borough to help you get active and build strength and balance:
Dance To Health
A programme for people aged 50 and over who live or work in Dudley Borough or have a Dudley GP. The programme is a fun and sociable way to add physical activity into your life, which can help build strength and balance.
If you are unable to attend a programme DVDs and an online film library are available. For more information visit Dance to Health.
Healthy Hubs
Across the borough Healthy Hubs have a range of exercise options, from strength and balance exercise classes, to Park Active and Green Fit.
Let’s Get Moving!
Find out ways to add more movement into your day. You can work at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home or outdoors. Let’s Get Moving!
Remember: If you are unsure what exercises to do, please consult an appropriate health professional, such as your GP or Physiotherapist, before starting a new exercise programme.
Worried about falling or had a fall?
The Dudley Falls Prevention Team is for anyone over the age of 65 living in Dudley, or registered with a Dudley GP who is:
- worried about falling or recently had a fall
- feeling a little unsteady on their feet
- keen to maintain strength and balance to avoid a fall
- recovering from a fall and lacking in confidence
- falling more often and don’t know why
The team can offer advice and services to maintain and improve your balance, strength and mobility, to help you feel more confident and to live an independent, safe and active life.
An individual assessment will take place and a range of different services and interventions will be offered dependent on your needs.
Contact the Falls Prevention Team:
- Phone: 0300 555 0055
- Email: fallsspa@dudley.gov.uk or ask your GP or nurse to refer you
Useful resources:
- The NHS approved Falls Assistant website can support you to assess your current balance level and choose the correct level of exercise (1, 2 or 3). The site contains videos for each exercise level to help you try the activities at home.
- Get up and Go (PDF) is a guide to staying steady.
- Backward-Chaining (PDF) is a sequence of movements combined together to help teach someone to be able to get down to the floor safely. Once learnt, in reverse, it can be used as a safe and effective way to get up from the floor. Regular practice in this set of exercises will ensure that you are able to get up from the floor if you fall.