Overview of activity
This is more an education talk rather than an activity and is aimed at the elderly. You could get the elderly involved in identify possible risks in and around their immediate environment. If you choose to do this, you may want to stage some scenarios prior to the talk.
Some background information:
• Each year, 1 in 3 adults aged 65 years and older falls
• Falls cause moderate to severe injuries
• A fall could reduce your mobility
What you will need
This will depend whether you are going to present this as an informative talk, or get the participants involved.
If you are just going to do a talk, you may want to develop a presentation that details the points below. You may also want to print up a leaflet with the information detailed below to leave behind.
If you intend to stage some scenarios and involved the participants, choose props to illustrate the points listed below, you will get a better idea after reading the information, but these might include:
• Very high heel shoes, shoes that are too small or too big
• Clutter is any shape or form including a loose floor rug
Most of this can be easily demonstrated by a walk about during which you point out areas that are well set up or areas where improvements could be made.
What you will do
Address these key points with the participants in an interactive and fun way
Choose your shoes carefully
Low heel
Slip resistant
Comfortable
Cushioning
Easy to get on and off
Clear Clutter
Tuck electrical cables away
Keep the floor clutter-free
Don’t have scatter rugs and bed frills around
Fall-proof your bathroom
Add a grip bar to your shower
Keep a non-slip mat or strip inside and outside your shower or bath
Reaching good lighting
Make sure you have a bedside light you can easily reach at night
Use night lights if this is easy
Fall-resistant furniture
Ensure that there is ample space around your chair
Use a sturdy chair that cannot move around easily
Make sure your chair has arm rests to help you get up
Make sure your chair is a comfortable height to get in and out of
Smart storage
Don’t store everyday items too high or too low
Store the items you use regularly in easy to get to places
Ask for help when getting items that are stored high up or low down – don’t ever stand on a chair or use a stepladder
Variations you can try
Not applicable
Outcomes
This activity is meant to educate and inform in a fun way.
Suggestions
For more information on falls visit www.stopfalls.org
