Also in June:
22 June 2009
NHSG/103/09
Special events are being held across Aberdeenshire on Tuesday, June 23, to mark National Falls Awareness Day and help older people and their carers.
"A fall for an older person can have a devastating effect, damaging confidence, reducing mobility and increasing social isolation and depression," says Shona Strachan, Occupational Therapist and Falls Lead for Aberdeenshire Community Health Partnership. "More than 30 per cent of the over 65 population fall each year and this increases to 50 per cent of people aged 85 or over. These events add to the extensive multi-agency activities which promote falls prevention - this includes education, exercise and diet - and support those who experience falls."
In Banchory, at Dalvenie Gardens Sheltered Housing, there is an open coffee morning for residents and anyone in the community who have concerns about falling. Staff will be on hand between 9am and 3pm to answer questions, provide advice and direct people to appropriate services.
In Inverurie, Mitchells Dairy is sponsoring a coffee morning, exercise group and presentation from a local dietician, on the importance of diet in maintaining good bone health, for residents at Don House Sheltered Housing.
In Stonehaven, health and community staff are hosting an event in the Somerfield store in the centre of the town. Glenda Stewart, senior Occupational Therapist at Kincardine Community Hospital in Stonehaven, said: "As we have had patients who have been injured by falling, we felt it was important to support National Falls Awareness day and encourage people to come along and meet their local therapy staff. We are aiming to provide advice and information illustrating that falls don't have to be a part of aging."
In Peterhead, the local physiotherapist has arranged with an exercise instructor at Peterhead Community and Leisure centre to hold an open event for older people in the Peterhead area concerned about their balance. This event starts at 11am.
Jack Stuart, General Manager of Aberdeenshire Community Health Partnership, said: "Falls prevention and bone health is a major concern to the NHS with consideration to the increase in the older population. Aberdeenshire CHP is fully behind the initiatives being developed around this issue."
Corporate Communications
NHS Grampian