Pages 39-44 in the full Wise
Guide book
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Guide
Here's the good news. Fewer than one per cent of
older people become crime victims in any year. Falls are a bigger
risk, affecting one in three people over 65 every year, but there
are plenty of precautions you can take to avoid them.
Eat healthily and take
regular exercise
And ask your local council about t'ai chi, swimming and other classes for older
people. Gardening and housework also help keep you fit.
Did you
know…most serious home accidents happen on the stairs or in
the kitchen
Care on the stairs and
in the bathroom
- make sure your stairs are well lit and have rails or
banisters
- replace worn carpets
- avoid highly-polished floors and loose rugs
- wear close-fitting slippers with good treads
- leave the bathroom unlocked
- use a non-slip mat and handrail in the bath and shower.
Caution in the kitchen
- wipe up spills immediately to avoid slips
- keep items you use regularly within easy reach.
Having trouble preparing
meals or doing the housework? Contact your local social services
and ask for an assessment. The community occupational
therapist will advise on helpful equipment. The
Disabled Living Foundation (0845 130 9177, dlf.org.uk) can also advise on
such equipment as handrails, automatic lights and kettle
tippers.
Our Top
Tip
Foundations, (01457 891 909, foundations.uk.com) has
details of home improvement agencies (HIAs) which assist older,
vulnerable people to repair and adapt their homes if necessary.
Advice is free; you have to pay for work done but they will tell
you about grants. See chapter 2.
Falls
For every two people who fracture a hip in later
life, one never regains the same level of mobility so don't take
risks.
If you have a fall...
- stay calm
- if you're unhurt, look for something firm to hold on to and get
slowly to your feet again
- then sit down and rest
- if you are injured, try to get comfortable, stay warm, and
shift position every half hour or so until help arrives.
If you have had several falls or fear a fall, ask
your GP to refer you to an NHS Falls Clinic. You should get a
consultation with a falls prevention nurse who talks to you about
any concerns you have, tests your balance, recommends foot care and
makes sure you stay as fit as possible.
How to feel safer at
home
Most burglaries are opportunist crimes. Don't be an
easy target.
- lock front and back doors whenever you go out, even for a few
moments
- fit a locking chain and spyhole on your front door, and
consider an alarm for total peace of mind. Locking chains allow
people with a key - such as your cleaner - to get in.
- if in doubt about unexpected callers, keep them out. Gas,
electric, and water companies can give meter readers and engineers
a password so you know they are genuine
- if you're out after dark, leave a light and radio on in the
sitting room
- get advice from the Crime Prevention Officer at your police
station. Some areas have schemes to help older people
- call Age UK Advice on 0800 169 65 65 and ask for their booklet,
Staying Safe
- Age UK's HandyVan scheme (0845 026 1055) will fit locks and
also offers a household repair service
- Safe Partnership, (0845 230 9090, safepartnership.org),
runs local schemes providing free home security to vulnerable
people.
Staying in touch in an
emergency
Many councils run community alarm schemes. For a
small fee, you get a panic button, usually on a pendant or
wristband, so you can contact an emergency operator if you have a
fall, are taken ill, or suspect a break-in. The operator phones a
friend, relative or the emergency services. Age UK has been running
its alarm scheme for 30 years but try your council first. If you
can't find a local scheme, ask the Telecare Services Association
(01625 520 320, telcare.org.uk).
Don't be scammed by the
scammers
Scams are schemes to con you out of your money or
possessions. They come by phone, post or email, or in the guise of
'antiques experts' knocking on your door. Over half of the people
scammers target are over 55. The Office of Fair Trading has a
useful Scambuster booklet
which is free from 0800 389 3158 or oft.gov.uk.
Scammers may offer you investment opportunities.
They may claim to be psychics with amazing - or alarming - news.
Common email scams come from foreigners who claim to have huge sums
of money they want to transfer to Britain, offering you a share.
Prizes in lotteries for which you never bought a ticket are another
ploy. If you choose to make new
friends online, be wary of anyone who asks you to send them money.
They may not be who they say they are.
Fire prevention
Most fire deaths in the home involve older people.
Cut your risk by:
- never smoking in bed or anywhere you're likely to doze off.
Smoking causes almost half of fire deaths
- getting free advice from your local Fire and Rescue service.
Ask for a home fire safety visit
- installing and maintaining smoke alarms. Age UK's HandyVan
service will do this for you
- never drying clothes near a fire or heater
- making sure your electric wiring is safe and you don't overload
sockets. Your local home improvement agency (see chapter
2) will recommend a qualified electrician.
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a full copy of the Wise
Guide
