Stepping stones to falls prevention

Older people have a right to expect the highest possible quality of life. Sadly a lot of older people have slips, trips or falls and falling can badly damage a person’s quality of life and level of independence.

Falls are not necessarily a natural consequence of ageing and many can be prevented through simple lifestyle changes.

A fall is often the trigger to make people look at their life and take the opportunity to improve their health and fitness and hopefully prevent themselves falling again.

In Bridgend, as part of a falls prevention project, a folder of information has been developed. The aim of the information is to enable people to get the help they need in the Bridgend County Borough Council area as well as good advice e.g. how to adapt their home environment, how to get up if they fall, strength and balance exercises for healthy ageing.

Here are some top tips on preventing slips, trips and falls:

• Remove or tape down loose rugs to avoid slips and trips
• Wipe up floor spills straight away 
• Minimise bending/climbing  
• If you must climb, use proper steps 
• Get up from chairs/bed slowly 
• Have a regular eye test/wear your spectacles and make sure they are clean 
• Avoid trailing clothes which may trip you up 
• Don’t wear sloppy slippers, buy a new pair that fit well 
• Keep stairs free from clutter 
• Keep stairways and halls well lit 
• If prescribed medication is making you feel dizzy, keep taking it, but consult your GP 
• Be aware of pets. Dogs and cats can cause trips and fall if they are around your feet

If you do have a fall:

• Don’t panic – you will probably feel a little shocked and shaken but try and stay calm
• If unhurt look for something to look onto 
• Hold onto a firm object for support, place one foot flat on the floor with the knee bent in front of the body 
• Lean forward putting weight on hands and foot until it is possible to place other foot beside the one on the floor and stand up slowly 
• Sit down and rest for a short time

In Bridgend the Bridgelink Telecare service is a home and personal alarm service which, in the event of an emergency/fall, can automatically contact a 24hour control centre to call assistance. A mobile response team is also available to assist. This service has prevented many hospital admissions and ambulance call outs as the mobile response team, following an assessment, have equipment that enables them to pick a client up from the floor, if they have fallen, to a bed or chair. This service is administered, installed and maintained by Bridgend County Care and Repair.

Health, social care and voluntary agencies are now all actively involved in falls prevention campaigns across Bridgend County Borough Council, the aim being to develop a robust Integrated Falls Pathway for the people of Bridgend.


Anita Williams
Agency Occupational Therapist/Falls Coordinator
Bridgend County Care and Repair

1 in 8 adults in Wales are carers... did you know?

Carers Week is a celebration of the contribution the 370,000 unpaid family carers in Wales make to society on a daily basis. They provide hours of personal care, physical and emotional support, help with finances, checking on medication and a whole range of other practical support, which saves the state millions of pounds every year. 100s of local events are being held across Wales throughout the week.

Wales is a caring nation but there are big challenges ahead. A Carers Week/You Gov poll this week found that the majority of adults in Wales vastly underestimate the number of carers there are in Wales (most said 1 in 25 when in fact 1 in 8 of us are carers). The same poll showed that most adults in Wales do not think that they will ever become a carer, when in reality over 60% of us will at some point.

The IPPR Generation Strain report 2014 highlighted recently that many more adult children caring for elderly parents will have to provide more care for longer, carers of working age will increasingly struggle to balance care and more older people themselves will be carers.

All of which highlights the need for carers to be 'Prepared to Care' so that we can all make decisions in a planned and considered way rather than in a crisis.

Caring has always been a mixture of caring 'for' and 'about' someone but carers need to be prepared for the emotional, practical and financial implications caring can have. Unfortunately the Carers Week/You Gov poll also found that over half of current carers in Wales say that they do not receive enough support to do the role well. Carers’ biggest worries were money matters, the emotional strain of caring and not having the right skills for their role. They also said that the most important thing for them would be to know exactly what help is available right from the start.

Health and Local Authorities have a huge role to play, of course, but the third sector also plays a big part in supporting carers across Wales. Organisations such as Carers Wales, Carers Trust, MS Society, Macmillan, Marie Curie, Parkinsons UK, Stroke Association, Age Cymru, Alzheimer’s Society, Care & Repair Cymru and others all provide vital services to carers.

We all have two years to plan for the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014, which will bring major changes to social care in Wales, and the third sector will be keen to contribute fully. Although fundamental questions still remain about how, as a society, we invest in social care to meet the needs of carers and those they care for.

Keith Bowen

Director

Carers Wales

Carers Week - My Story

I’m a carer to my 13 year old son who has autism spectrum disorder (we’ll call him J). I’m also a wife, mum to a 10 year old daughter and I work full time. I am exhausted and frustrated by the strain and daily battles we have to face as a family and, like virtually all the people I know in my position, I take medication for anxiety.

Here’s how today started for us:

I think, ask a closed question: ‘Five minutes more sleep, or are you ready for breakfast?’

He grunts – OK, he’s a teenager, that’s normal.

We lay out his clothes as he can’t choose them himself.

He gets up and goes to the toilet. Think, remind him: ‘Wipe your bum, flush the toilet, wash your hands'. Then ‘Clean your teeth, use toothpaste, rinse’.

He goes to get dressed. From downstairs my husband and I hear a crash, look at each other, sigh. What now? More banging and crashing, swearing, shouting, ranting. We do rock paper scissors to see who’ll go and sort this one out. I lose. ‘These socks are wrong,’ he screams right in my face. I realise I have run out of new socks for him and my attempt to fool him by washing and ironing a worn once pair had clearly not worked. I leave him to rage.

When it’s all quiet again my husband asks him to get dressed, telling him he’s late now. I think, ‘Why did you say that? He’s going to lose it again’. I go into his room, but too late spot the look in his eye and hear the swish in his voice. I try to move as I know what those signs mean. Too late. He punches me in the face. My husband tries in vain to move him and I cover my face so that my son’s punches only rain down where no-one will see the bruises.

We manage to leave the room and hold the door closed so at least all J can break now is furniture and the already smashed up bedroom door. I cry and my husband struggles to breathe with the anxiety. Downstairs my daughter, who has got herself up, dressed and fed, packed her lunchbox says, ‘I’m going to be late, who’s taking me to school?’ Guilt, so much guilt for having to spend so much more time and energy on our son than with her.

J is calmer now. He gets dressed and comes downstairs. He hasn’t cleaned his teeth but we’re not going to ask him again. He says ‘Come on, we’re going to be late’. He’s totally oblivious to what’s just happened. I kiss him goodbye, ‘Love you babe’. ‘Love you too, Mum’.

That’s how today started. That’s how lots of days start, and carry on, and end.

I head off to start my day in work. Full time work is a breeze in comparison to being a carer.


Anonymous

fesTYval... reimagining regeneration!

fesTYval: Reimagining Regeneration, 18 June
Swansea Care & Repair, 13C Valley Way, Alberto Road, Swansea, SA6 8QP
9am – 5pm
#fesTYval

The first of its kind in Wales!

I am very pleased to say that we have had unprecedented interest in our new and exciting housing-led regeneration event, 'fesTYval'. From the local health board to the police, Communities First, social enterprises, local authorities and of course housing association staff and tenants, it really will be a mix of delegates who will all be there to find out more, be inspired by, celebrate and challenge the social housing sector's role in regenerating communities.

On 18th June we will transform this warehouse into a visually stimulating, fun and engaging venue:

The event stems from Community Housing Cymru and CREW Regeneration Wales’ Housing-led Regeneration Network which runs on a quarterly basis and is chaired by Steve Cranston, Head of Community Investment at United Welsh. Housing-led Regeneration is a rather creative element of the work of housing associations, and we felt that a standard corporate event would not fit with the agenda and audience.

As many of you are aware, the social housing sector is increasingly involved in regenerating communities through various initiatives. To give you a snapshot of the regeneration work taking place across Wales, you can take a look at our fesTYval Pinterest page: http://gb.pinterest.com/chcgroup/festyval-reimagining-regeneration/

The sector and tenants rarely have a chance to reflect on the work taking place and to identify new pursuits. fesTYval will provide this opportunity.

In true UnConference format, fesTYval will run a loose ‘line-up’ with delegates given the choice to attend fringe events, master classes, and headline sessions throughout the day.

The 'Big Top' will host the headline speakers throughout the day, keeping us inspired and focused. The three fringe sessions will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear from showcased RSL examples and seek advice and support from colleagues on these areas of work. The measuring and reporting session will highlight the various tools and software available to the sector to capture and monitor what you are doing well. The Masterclass sessions will provide a free learning opportunity for both colleagues and tenants, giving you the tools to put your new ideas into action. Finally, Regen Street will allow you to take stock, grab a cuppa or an ice cream, and mingle with colleagues over the Washing Line or in the Cosy Caravan. The street will be lined with interactive stalls and stands from our partners, RSLs, local businesses and social enterprises for your perusal throughout the day.

Thanks to our partners including Building Enterprise, CREW and Bangor University, fesTYval will run at the low cost of only £20 per delegate. If you would like to book your place, please visit CHC's website. A warning… tickets are running low!

You can join the conversation on Twitter leading up to the event and on the day using the #fesTYval hashtag. We look forward to seeing you there!


Hayley MacNamara
Regeneration Officer

Older People's Commissioner for Wales: An update

Earlier this year, I released a report calling for the preservation of community services which are essential for helping older people to maintain their health, independence and wellbeing.

The report, entitled ‘The Importance and Impact of Community Services within Wales’, outlines the importance of provisions including buses and community transport, public toilets, pavements, public seating, outdoor areas, libraries, leisure facilities, community and day centres.

There is real concern among many older people that these vital services are disappearing, which will have a devastating impact on their lives.

The evidence in the report was drawn from a series of focus groups that took place with older people around Wales, as well as from a range of partners with expertise in specialist areas.

Many of these older people are housing association tenants and I meet them at home, in their residential complexes and schemes, as well as at the various clubs and groups which they are members of, through my ongoing Engagement Roadshow.

The community services that older people consistently talk about are not luxuries, but are lifelines to helping them stay independent, healthy and connected to their local communities, their friends and families.

I understand the current budgetary pressures being placed upon Local Authorities and that difficult decisions on expenditure and savings must be made. It is vital, however, that as spending decisions are made, essential community services are recognised as being as impactful and as important as statutory services and that older people are able to continue to access them.

Building on the report, I will publish a toolkit later this year to help housing association residents and all older people to engage with Local Authorities and influence the decisions that affect them.

I am also planning a number of seminars for key local authority staff, to present the case for the retention of community services, facilities and infrastructure in Wales and to discuss and agree an effective way forward.

For a copy of ‘The Importance and Impact of Community Services within Wales’ or to find out more about my work across the country, visit www.olderpeoplewales.com or call 08442 640670.

Sarah Rochira
Older People's Commissioner for Wales

CREW Regeneration Wales' 'Deep Place' Study

CREW has recently published its ‘Deep Place’ report, the result of 12 months of detailed research into the community of Tredegar by Professor Dave Adamson and Dr Mark Lang. CREW has been pleased with the initial reaction to the report which some have described as a game changer for current approaches to tackling poverty and creating environmentally, socially, economically and culturally sustainable communities in Wales.

The research, which looked at Tredegar holistically, has identified the key disadvantages experienced by people living in the town, and identifies the positive opportunities to create a sustainable community. It offers an alternative to the view that regeneration is only about managing decline in post-industrial communities.

The ‘Foundational Economy’, a concept developed by Prof Karel Williams of Manchester University, is viewed by CREW as the principal means to achieve economic growth in Tredegar. The report argues for a more localised semi-autonomous local economy that could provide a sustainable future for the local community with, for example, localised supply chains and patterns of employment. It identifies four key sectors that are critical to future success: food; energy conservation and generation; the care sector; e-commerce and employment.

There are already spatially orientated policy initiatives in Wales, such as Enterprise Zones, Local Growth Zones and City Regions. There needs, however, to be a ‘Total Place’ strategy for communities, and this is what the Deep Place Study proposes for Tredegar.

The Deep Place approach can be used as a means more generally in other disadvantaged communities in Wales and beyond. For communities to become more resilient, inclusive governance is needed. However, this requires very different perspectives from the normal approach to power at community level and will depend on willingness and openness of public sector organisations at national, regional and local levels to share power, coordinate activities, develop synergies and work for common objectives.

To find out more, you can download the report, Toward A New Settlement: A ‘Deep Place’ Approach to Equitable and Sustainable Places, from the CREW website.

CREW Regeneration Wales will also be hosting a Twitter talk on the study later today from 5 until 7pm, using the #DeepPlace hashtag. 




Dr Mark Lang
CREW Regeneration Wales

Why Council Homes Chat...?

In recent years there has been a torrent of misleading, sensationalist reporting in both the print media and on television programmes. Recent examples include ‘Benefits Street’ and ‘How to get a Council House’. Each of these programmes had its own special brand of reporting, which failed to depict a balanced and thoughtful picture. Instead they opted for heavily biased journalism aimed at boosting ratings and creating a ‘moral panic’ amongst its viewers.

If the TV programmes and skewed reporting amongst the print media weren’t bad enough, the Twitter hashtags created by such programmes are quite frankly scary! You only have to look at the ‘twitter storm’ created by Wednesday’s ‘How to get a Council house’ to get a glimpse of the hateful bigotry and at best massively ill-informed views created by such media reporting. We’ve had enough….

Growing up within council housing gave me the best possible start I could have in life. It was safe, secure and enabled my family to feel part of a community. It meant I had a happy and healthy childhood and I still hold great memories and fondness of my time there. Likewise, as a housing professional, I get to see how social housing brings out the best in people. Having a home shouldn’t be dependent on someone’s income or ability to pay.

Put simply, a house is someone’s home, where they can grow roots, build a community and have a family. A stable home provides people with a solid foundation for good health, employment and happiness. The tenure of the home shouldn’t matter. It is only right to have a good menu of tenures to suit different needs; however, this does not make one more important or desirable than the others. This is why it’s essential to start challenging the stereotypes created by the mainstream media.

Council Homes Chat was set up to challenge the status quo and to act as a platform for people to tell their stories, especially the ones that the media refuses to report because, dare I say it… they’re positive! The benefits of good, decent and secure housing have been well-documented, both in terms of an individual's health and wellbeing, but also to society as a whole. These are the stories that we need to start telling…

How can you get involved?

If you believe in the right to have a safe, secure and decent home regardless of income and would like to get involved in our campaign, please get in touch. You can find out more about the campaign on the Council Homes Chat blog.


Cheryl Tracy
Community Investment Coordinator, Monmouthshire Housing

‘Council Homes Chat’ is managed and coordinated by Cheryl Tracy, Elisa Faulkner and Michala Rudman and you can get in touch with them on Twitter: Council Homes Chat.