Published on:
21
June 2010
A slippers amnesty is being held at Ludgate House with older people being urged to hand in worn-out and potentially dangerous footwear.
In exchange older people will be encouraged to buy more appropriate slippers in a bid to cut down on falls and accidents in the home.
The slippers amnesty is part of National Falls Awareness Week which is held from 21st to 25th June 2010 and organised by Age UK, the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged.
With one in three people in later life suffering from a fall each year, Age UK, is encouraging older people to find out more about falls prevention and get involved in local activities. This year's theme is 'Get Up and Go' with a focus on strength and balance, raising awareness of some simple steps older people can take to avoid a fall in later life.
Ludgate House provides respite and day care for older people and exercise is part of the daily programme offered to service users.
During Falls Awareness Week, the centre's staff will be encouraging as many service users as possible to take gentle exercise which can help improve balance and leg strength
Two members of staff at Ludgate have been trained to deliver the world-renowned Otago Exercise Programme (OEP). The OEP was designed by the Falls Prevention Research Group at the University of Otago Medical School in New Zealand. It consists of a series of leg-strengthening and balance-retraining exercises that get progressively more difficult as you get stronger. It also involves a walking plan.
You are invited to send a photographer to Ludgate House at 11.45pm on Wednesday 23rd June when service users will be participating in the exercise programme.
Councillor Sam Ovens, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said "Many people may not replace their slippers because they are comfortable, not realising the importance of slippers that fit well. A slopping, worn out slipper is a potentially dangerous item so this slipper amnesty is a great chance to buy specialist fitted footwear at a discounted price.
"The consequences of a fall in later life can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. Injuries caused by falls are a leading cause of death amongst older people, but despite this, falls are by no means an inevitable part of the ageing process. I'm delighted that the staff at Ludgate House are doing all they can to highlight this important issue amongst their 165 service users."