Care of the Older Person

Our aim is to keep our older patients as active as possible thus reducing the likelyhood of hospital admission. Recent research has shown that following a fall older people are 50% more likely to have significantly reduced mobility making them less independent and subsequently afraid to walk outside due to a fear of falling.

We use the Otago Programme which is recognised world wide as a very effective falls prevention programme and has been shown to reduce falls by 60%. It is tailored to each patients ability and includes strengthening and balance work. This daily programme is combined with a walking distance programme to encourage stamina. We work closely with carers and family members to ensure these are done regularly by providing a print out of exercises and an activity calendar.

As we get older the messages between our brain and our muscles are not as finely tuned resulting in poorer balance. This causes a higher risk of falling and may be due to lack of mobility or an underlying neurological condition such as Parkinsons. This can be improved by re educating your bodies reactions using a programme of static and dynamic balance exercises to be done daily. Education of family and carers is an important part of the treatment also.

We can guide you with a graded exercise programme to increase your mobility and thus your independence. This can be following a wide variety of problems such as a fracture joint replacement a fall an illness that caused immobility a neurological disorder or arthritis. Regular exercise can overcome these problems once it is tailored to you. Take action now!

Please ask our advice if you need a mobility aid or equipment post injury. You may be looking for an ice pack back support knee brace pair of orthotics or an office chair. There are many products on the market so it is important that you get the correct one for you.