Getting Up From The Floor After a Fall. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Falls Prevention Services

Transcription

1 Getting Up From The Floor After a Fall Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Falls Prevention Services

2 Prevention Service Getting up from the floor after a fall Falls among older people are very common 33% of the over 65s are likely to fall in a given year, rising to 50% of all those over 85 years of age. The immediate effect of a fall is likely to leave you feeling shocked and shaken, but try to stay calm and remember only 5-10% of falls result in injury. Many of the problems after a fall, like shock, hypothermia or pneumonia, are due to lying on the floor for a long time. This can happen even when there are no significant injuries, if you are unable to get up. Many people find that they are able to get up from the floor with practice the hardest part is often getting onto the floor in the first place! So, until you are confident, it is best to have a therapist with you and to try one stage at a time, as illustrated inside this leaflet. You will need: A hard chair, preferably with arms placed on a carpet with enough space to lie down. Several cushions or pillows until you are more confident.

3 Getting on the Floor 1. Turn to face the chair, using the arms or seat for support if necessary. 2. Slowly lower yourself onto your knees, one leg at a time. 3. This can be achieved more gradually using pillows across the front of the chair and taking them away one at a time as you get more confident. 4. Slide your hands off the chair and onto the floor. 5. With your hands in front of you, gently lower your bottom onto the floor, legs to one side. 6. If you are able, lie down flat on the floor. If not, use pillows to support your head.

4 Getting Up from the Floor 1.Roll onto your side, bend your knees and gently push up into a sitting position, legs to one side. 2. With both hands flat on the floor, push through your arms, swinging your bottom round, so that both knees and hands are now on the floor. 3. In this position, crawl over to the chair and get ready to stand up. 4. Place both hands onto the seat of the chair and slowly bring one knee forward so that your foot is flat on the floor. 5. Pushing through this foot and both hands, gradually bring your other foot forward as you stand up. 6. Turn to site on the chair and rest for a few minutes.

5 What to do if you have a fall Try not to panic! Wait a few minutes until you feel calmer, then assess the situation. If you are unhurt Try crawling to a sturdy chair and getting up as shown on the previous page. Contact a friend, neighbour or relative and let them know what has happened. If you are hurt or unable to get up Summon help use your personal alarm if you have one. If not, crawl or shuffle to the telephone if you are able, or bang on the wall to alert a neighbour. Keep warm try to reach for something to keep you covered, e.g. a coat, towel or tablecloth and move a way from drafts if possible. Move to a softer surface if you have fallen onto a hard floor, try to crawl or shuffle onto a carpeted area. This will be more comfortable and help to protect your skin. Keep moving it is important not to lie in one position for too long, as you may get cold and develop pressure sores, especially if you do not have much padding! Roll from side to side if you are able and keep your arms and legs moving as much as possible.

6 If you need to empty your bladder while on the floor: Try to soak up the wet with something you can reach, such as a towel, item of clothing or cushion. Then move away from the wet area if possible to avoid getting cold. Remember:- a serious fall can have a devastating effect on an older person in terms of:- Physical disability and pain Anxiety Depression Reduced confidence Social isolation Wherever possible, prevention is the best policy! Here are steps you can take to be prepared:-

7 You can help to prevent a fall by: Checking the instructions on any medicines you take whether prescribed by your doctor or bought over the counter. Medicines prescribed by the doctor should be reviewed annually. Having your eyesight checked annually. Wearing comfortable, well fitting shoes with a thin sole. Asking advice from a podiatrist if you have painful feet or difficulty cutting your toenails. Eating a well balanced diet with plenty of calcium, for example: milk, cheese and yoghurt. Keeping your home safe and free of clutter which you could trip over. Staying active this will help you to stay mobile and independent.

8 .... Leaflet published: September 2018 Leaflet review date: September 2020 Falls Prevention Services For information about falls prevention please contact the administration hub on Patient Advice and Liaison Service For information about CPFT services or to raise an issue, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on Freephone , or Out-of-hours service for CPFT mental health service users Please call NHS 111 for health advice and support. If you require this information in another format such as braille, large print or another language, please let us know.

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