Watch your step

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (Pennine Care) is raising awareness of the dangers of falling and how it can be avoided, as part of Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week.

Every year, more than three million people aged over 65, including half of those aged 80 plus, will have a fall. The consequences can be devastating, both physically and emotionally.

The theme of this year’s awareness week is the link between reduced vision and falls and encouraging older people to have regular eye tests.

Christine Frames, Clinical Lead for the Falls Prevention Service, said: “It is not just falls themselves that have an impact, the fear of falling can have a devastating effect on confidence - limiting daily activities and reducing independence.

“There are however a number of things that can be done to help prevent falls; simply making sure you have regular eye tests and wearing the right prescription glasses can help with balance and make you feel more confident on your feet.”

For more information about falls awareness week visit www.ageuk.org.uk/fallsweek