Falls are the most common accident in the home and there are many factors that can affect balance and mobility including medical conditions, certain medications and even diet.

Many people who have suffered a fall find that their confidence is affected and this can result in avoiding going out and becoming less mobile.

Our Falls Service is a referral service from a GP, nurse or other health practitioner. You will be referred to us if you have recently had a fall, or series of falls and your doctor, nurse or other health practitioner feels that you would benefit from our specialist service.

What can we offer?

HOPE Specialist Falls Service offers a number of options designed to help improve mobility, stability and confidence.

The programme is tailored to your needs and abilities, so no matter how little you can do, we can design a programme to help. We will aim to set goals together and you will be monitored throughout the programme to ensure your safety.

The type of exercise you will do entirely depends on you, but the overall aim will be to strengthen your muscles and improve flexibility, balance and co-ordination. You will be part of a small group of older people, with a wide age range from people in their sixties to late nineties. It is therefore important to remember that you are all individuals and some will be able to do more than others.

We aim to modify everyday activities, so it may well entail something as simple as sit to stands or having a short walk. It may include exercises for your arms as well as your legs and we will aim to increase your strength and endurance gradually over the eight-week programme. The advice you are given should enable you to do the exercises at home as well.

The Falls Service offers a number of options to referred patients, namely:

Fallstop – a one-off group session, which involves advice and education about:

• What can cause a fall and how to prevent them
• The importance of staying active
• Keeping walking aids safe
• Overcoming difficulties with accessing transport
• Getting out and about

Falls Rehabilitation Programme – an eight week, twice weekly programme of exercise and education, which you will attend as part of a group of up to ten patients. The programme is tailored to your needs and abilities, so no matter how little you can do, we can design a programme to help.  We will aim to set goals together and you will be monitored throughout the programme to ensure your safety. The type of exercise you will do entirely depends on you, but the overall aim will be to strengthen your muscles and improve flexibility, balance and co-ordination. We aim to modify everyday activities, so it may well entail something as simple as sit to stands or having a short walk.  It may include exercises for your arms as well as your legs and we will aim to increase your strength and endurance gradually over the eight-week programme.  The advice you are given should enable you to do the exercises at home as well.

Home Rehab – a six-week tailored programme of exercise, delivered in your own home. The programme is flexible to work around you and any appointments or other commitments you have. It will utilise the home environment and can also incorporate outdoor activity practice, such as walking outside or functional tasks like hanging out the washing and gardening.

Virtual Falls Rehab – an eight week, twice weekly programme of exercise and education, similar to our Falls Rehabilitation programme, but which can be delivered to you in your own home. This does require internet access and a device, such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop, but we are able to loan easy-to-use tablet devices with built-in broadband to patients for pre-assessment clinics and rehab sessions and our staff can show you how to use the tablet if you need help.

Subject to availability, we offer a limited number of places on our patient transport for clinic appointments and group sessions.

“It has given me the confidence to go to the shop on my own. I’ve got my confidence back.”

“I am able to do the exercises without worrying that I may fall, because of the way the clinic has taught me to THINK first.”

Clubs and Activities

Our Falls Service also runs a number of social and maintenance activities including:

Tai Chi – weekly sessions at our gym and community venues

Chair Based Exercise – weekly sessions in the community

Piscatorial Codgers Fishing Club – support group for elderly and / or disabled who want to go fishing but cannot do so without help

Grouchy Old Men’s Club – social club for older men (held outside the fishing season)

Click here to find out more about our HOPE activities and clubs

Falls Buddies

Our Falls Buddies are vital to the service because many of them are either former patients who have suffered falls or people who have the experience of caring for a family member who has fallen. This means they may understand what you are thinking and feeling because have been through it themselves.

Many of our patients report that they are able to talk to the Buddies about things they would not feel comfortable discussing with a health professional.

Life after Falls Rehab

We want you to maintain the improvement you will see after our 8 week programme, so we run weekly maintenance sessions where you can continue to use our exercise equipment in a safe and supervised environment.