Popular falls prevention service moves into Holgate on its second anniversary

A project to help prevent people falling in their own homes is expanding into a fifth ward in the city, in its second year of operation.

Having started in Clifton ward in March 2017 as part of the council’s YorWellbeing Services, work to prevent falls in homes extended to Guildhall ward, then to Micklegate and Fishergate wards. Now it’s rolled out into Holgate. 

These wards were identified by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) as having homes with higher trip risks than the city average. These include hazards such as missing stair rails, uneven flooring or poor internal lighting, especially for children aged under five and older people.

The partnership of housing, health and safety experts including North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Age UK York carry out free home visits to check and repair simple trip hazards in homes whether rented or privately owned.

Visits are arranged and carried out with a falls prevention practitioner and a joiner. They offer practical advice specific to the resident and their home and can make simple improvements there and then such as fitting a grab rail or banister rail, fitting brighter light bulbs, securing loose carpets or suggesting exercises to help improve residents’ strength and balance. They will also signpost residents to other relevant services.

Since its launch two years ago, the team has put thousands of fall prevention measures in place. These include fitting 733 grab rails, 277 banisters, 391 brighter light bulbs, 13 window restrictors, 11 carpet trims and four drop down toilet rails. 

Residents of Clifton, Guildhall, Micklegate, Fishergate and Holgate can request a free home visit for advice and help on preventing falls, please call 01904 567456 or emailreducingfalls@york.gov.uk

To find out more about the service and pick up some advice on reducing the risk of falls, please visit www.york.gov.uk/reducingfalls

New pilot service aims to reduce falling at home

A new scheme to help prevent people falling in their homes is starting in York by a partnership of housing, health and safety experts.

Research commissioned by City of York Council from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in 2015, identified that falls in the home was a cause for concern. Typically the risk of falls was increased due to missing stair rails, uneven flooring or poor internal lighting especially for children aged under five and older persons. Clifton ward was identified as one of the wards with a higher level of risk of falls than the city average

As part of its drive to offer preventative help and improve the quality of the city’s housing, the council brought together partners including the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. With its own public health, occupational therapy and building maintenance teams, it has developed a project to reduce the risk of falls for residents in their homes.

Over the 12-month pilot, free home safety checks will be offered to residents in Clifton ward, as part of the council’s YorWellbeing Services.

An advisor with handyperson skills and an occupational therapist will request home visits and offer practical advice specific to the resident and their home. The team can make simple improvements there and then such as fitting a grab rail or fitting brighter light bulbs, or their advice could include tightening carpets or using non-slip mats under rugs to smooth out trip risks or suggesting exercises to help the resident improve their balance. They will also signpost residents to other relevant services.

To date, the findings from the BRE study have been used to revise the council’s Private Sector Housing Strategy in 2016; to attract funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authority to tackle excess cold by offering insulation grants or interest-free loans to owners or landlords; and to raise awareness of the link between quality accommodation and good health which included hosting a regional health and housing conference at the University of York.
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