Local Home Care Provider adopts innovative approach in protecting against falls

One of the biggest concerns for any elderly person living alone is falling over and not being able to get back up.

What could initially be a minor fall can quickly become far more serious, with health conditions that come from lying on the floor too long.

These include; hypothermia, pressure sores and even organ failure, which in the worse cases can result in death.

A fall can also cause severe emotional trauma. According to research from Exeter University: "Taking a fall in older life can not only result in injury, but also a potentially debilitating loss of confidence."

One in three people over the age of 65 suffer a fall that can cause serious injury and even death costing the NHS more than £2.3 Billion per year.

Every year ambulance services respond to more than 700,000 calls from people who have fallen.

With this in mind, domiciliary home care provider, Home Instead Senior Care Exeter & East Devon, are pioneering the use of a special chair with a lifting device to help people off the floor.

The home care provider were praised in the Care Quality Commission State of Care report for its adaptation of the South West Ambulance Service's post-falls system and guidance to provide training for its staff.

This enabled staff to safely identify non-injury falls in their clients and to help them off the floor using the Raizer Chair.

The Chair was used 92 times in callouts last year preventing over 50 hospitalisations and saving the NHS over £250,000.

It is not just the financial and time saving benefits to our health care system that is impressive about the Raizer Chair, it is the impact it has on individuals and their families.

Knowing that these effective and innovative measures are being used by Home Care workers reduces stress and anxiety surrounding falls.

Home Instead Services are available to people in Honiton and the surrounding area. They are the only home care provider in the South West rated 5-Star Outstanding by the CQC and provide personalised home care and live-in care.

For more information visit the website Home Instead for Exeter and East Devon.