Often, the effects of getting older results in the need to take multiple medications to treat a range of health conditions – including prescription, over the counter medications and supplements. However, polypharmacy, or taking multiple medications, increases your risk of falling. Continue reading “Polypharmacy and Falls”
Sleeping Tablets Linked to Preventable Falls
As you get older, you may find yourself sleeping less or finding it more difficult to fall asleep. When this happens you might decide you should start taking sleeping tablets, however sleeping tablets can cause dizziness, light headedness, confusion and poor concentration, all of which increase your risk of having a fall. Continue reading “Sleeping Tablets Linked to Preventable Falls”
Check Your Medicines to Prevent Falls
Older adults are reminded to check their medicines, with Injury Matters program Stay On Your Feet®’s latest campaign, Check Your Medicines.
The Check Your Medicines campaign launched on 1 February 2019, focusing on the importance of good medication management as a strategy to reduce falls amongst older adults. Continue reading “Check Your Medicines to Prevent Falls”
Staying Safe Over Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate, relax and spend quality time with loved ones, but it is also the most common time of year for injuries to occur. There are some unique hazards that come about at Christmas time, and we are often so busy with our festivities we can be distracted when it comes to keeping ourselves safe. Continue reading “Staying Safe Over Christmas”
Australia and New Zealand Falls Prevention Conference 2018 in Hobart, Tasmania
The 8th biennial Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Conference was held in Hobart, Tasmania from 18th – 20th November 2018. The conference, held by the Australian New Zealand Falls Prevention Society, was a unique opportunity for those researching and working in the area of falls and falls prevention. The hugely diverse audience, ranging from university researchers, clinicians working with the community, policy makers and health promotion practitioners, ensured the presentations were extremely varied. Continue reading “Australia and New Zealand Falls Prevention Conference 2018 in Hobart, Tasmania”
Strengthen Your Legs Grants awarded
Four grants were awarded as part of the Stay On Your Feet® Strengthen Your Legs campaign. The grants aim to support community focused programs address the campaigns’ key messages. The Town of Cambridge, Goldfields Physio, the Pojulu Community of WA and the Shire of Denmark all ran programs with a focus on leg strength in older adults as part of the Strengthen Your Legs campaign. Continue reading “Strengthen Your Legs Grants awarded”
Active Balance Workshop in Geraldton
Falls and fall-related injuries place a significant burden on the health system and can have a profound and long-lasting impact on an individual and their family.
On Tuesday 4th September 2018, 19 allied health assistants and aged care workers came together in Geraldton to learn more about the link between staying active and reducing the impact and incidence of falls among older Australians through an Active Balance workshop led by Stay On Your Feet® Physiotherapist Sonya Clark. Continue reading “Active Balance Workshop in Geraldton”
Don’t let your leg strength trip you up
One in three older adults over the age of 65 years old will have a fall every year in Australia. One in three. This may have surprised you, but it shouldn’t. Most people would know someone who has experienced a fall, but it is not a health issue that is often discussed. The usual, “oh, they are getting older, so of course they are more unsteady, of course they had a fall…” is a fairly common myth, when talking about the health of our parents, grandparents, friends or neighbours. Continue reading “Don’t let your leg strength trip you up”
Getting a leg up on falls
Strong legs are important at every age and will keep you doing the things you enjoy.
Strengthen Your Legs with Julie promotes some of the different ways you can strengthen your legs to prevent falls, with a light-hearted twist through the characters Julie and her cat Tiddles. Follow Julie and Tiddles as they try their hands at different activities like tai chi, gym exercises and tennis. Continue reading “Getting a leg up on falls”
The five activities everyone is doing to prevent falls
I’ll let you in on a little secret; many older adults are being more active than ever and are keeping fit and strong doing activities they love. New research has shown that many of your favourite past times and hobbies have scientific evidence supporting the benefits of these activities on people’s health and fitness. Five of these activities are so popular, they all have clubs and programs throughout the state, where teams and communities of older adults get together each week. Continue reading “The five activities everyone is doing to prevent falls”
