Central Bedfordshire falls prevention survey

Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire (HWCB) approached a popular local community group; University of the Third Age (U3A), to talk to their members, raise awareness of falls prevention, and to discuss and distribute HWCB’s survey designed to ascertain their awareness of changes that might need to be made to their home in order to prevent falls in later life. Members were also asked to tell us what help they require in this area of self-care.

The U3A is a democratic, self-funded and self-managed organisation providing daytime educational and leisure activities at minimal cost for all local residents who are retired or not in full-time employment. This group of people were an ideal representative sample for HWCB’s Falls Prevention survey. Over 100 people were in attendance on the day HWCB presented the survey.

HWCB staff and volunteers developed nine main questions, plus follow-up multiple choice questions, within the survey, to give respondents the opportunity to associate their answers with the situations suggested. The survey was designed to spark recognition of likely hazards, normally taken for granted, and to gather information relating to thought patterns on the subjects covered, for example, ‘Do you have rugs on the floor?’ Many people have rugs on the floor for aesthetics but may not have considered them a trip hazard. The questions were designed specifically to probe for responses that may not have been triggered on a daily basis.

In total over 120 surveys were distributed; 100 were given directly to attendees on the day of the meeting and, for those who did not wish to complete the survey on the day, a further twenty were posted to attendees following the meeting. Of the 120 questionnaires given out, 40 were completed and returned by the end of the meeting, a further 21 were received by post within the following three weeks, one questionnaire had been misprinted and was therefore incomplete, and two were received after the cut off time and were not counted. The total number of responses informing this report was therefore 61.

The responses to the survey suggests the following key findings: Nearly half our sample lives alone; the overwhelming majority are owner occupiers; their overall morbidity appears to reflect the known incidences of long term conditions for the over 65 age group; less than half of the sample exercise for the recommended 2.5hrs a week; less than half the group had an eye test last year; over a quarter of the group use a walking aid; a large majority of the group are on-line using both the internet and social media; over half the group do not engage in regular foot care; a sizable majority of the sample 57% have experienced a fall hazard in their local neighbourhood and an even greater majority have struggled with kerb heights 72%; whilst the group do seem to plan effectively for many of their long term requirements they do not appear to plan for reduced mobility and flexibility in the home; very few members of the sample live in level access accommodation but,

perhaps because they feel safe, connected and known in their local community, they do not anticipate moving.

The report includes 2 recommendations . The report does not include a response from the provider.