The south Bucks community is being urged to help older people avoid “needless” falls to mark Older Person’s Day, after healthcare bosses warned those taking medication and living in a nursing home have a 400 per cent increased risk of suffering a fall.

A third of people over the age of 65, and half of those over 80, will suffer a fall at least once a year and falls account for around a third of ambulance calls, according to the NHS Chiltern and NHS Aylesbury Vale Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), who want people to do “everything possible” to help prevent this.

Causes of falls can include medicines – healthcare bosses say those living at home who take four or more medications have a 30 per cent increased risk of falling, which rises to 400 per cent for those living in a nursing home.

Around a third of falls happen as a result of “environmental factors”, which include badly fitted slippers, upturned rugs or poor lighting, according to the CCGs, and can also be an underlying symptom of a medical problem such as cardiac, neurological and musculoskeletal diseases like heart failure, dementia and arthritis.

Falls can lead to head injuries, hip fractures, kidney failure and even hypothermia, according to the CCGs. They can also shake people’s confidence and make them reluctant to leave their home which in turn boosts the risk of anxiety, depression and isolation, healthcare bosses have warned.

Dr Raj Thakkar, Clinical Commissioning director for planned care, and GP at Pound House Surgery in Wooburn Green, said: “It is essential that we as a community do everything possible to prevent falls, both for the enormous impact this can have on someone’s health and for the huge amount it can save the health services – a staggering £2.3billion a year.”

“I would strongly urge you to make your home, and the homes of vulnerable friends or family safe.

“If you're concerned about a health related cause for your dizziness or falls, consider visiting your GP.

“It may prevent a serious injury.”

For more information, go to http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Falls