Throughout the week, Ashwood is sharing some of the practical ways colleagues support residents to reduce their risk of falls, from encouraging movement and hydration to monitoring changes in health and ensuring residents can access the right professional support.

Falls prevention is about much more than simply being careful. Guidance from the National Council on Aging includes talking to healthcare professionals, regularly reviewing medications and prescriptions, and having vision and hearing checked.

These are all areas where Ashwood’s care team and care leads can play an important role.

Colleagues spend time with residents every day, putting them in a valuable position to notice changes in behaviour, mobility or physical abilities. They can advocate for residents and share observations with care leads so that any concerns can be followed up appropriately.

Care leads can then liaise with GPs and other healthcare professionals, including Occupational Therapists, opticians and audiologists, to help ensure residents receive the assessment, treatment or additional support they may need.

This collaborative approach helps place residents’ physical wellbeing at the heart of their care and can contribute towards identifying and reducing potential falls risks.

Falls Prevention Awareness Week is particularly important because it helps shine a light on the many different factors that can contribute to a fall and, importantly, the practical steps that can be taken to reduce the risk. For older people, a fall can affect not only physical health but also confidence, independence and willingness to remain active. By raising awareness among residents, families, colleagues and the wider community, the week encourages conversations about prevention and reinforces the importance of recognising changes early, seeking appropriate support and helping older people continue to live active and fulfilling lives.

Pauline Colman-Holland, Home Manager at Ashwood Care Centre, said: 

Falls prevention is a real team effort and something that forms part of the everyday care we provide at Ashwood. Our colleagues know our residents extremely well, which means they can often recognise small changes in someone’s mobility, behaviour, confidence, hearing or vision.

By communicating those changes and working closely with GPs and other healthcare professionals, we can make sure residents receive the right support when they need it. It’s about being proactive, looking at the whole person and helping our residents remain as safe, active and independent as possible.

At Ashwood, Falls Prevention Awareness Week is therefore not only about preventing falls, it is about supporting residents to remain active, confident and able to enjoy everyday life as safely and independently as possible.