Reports indicate the annual cost of hip fractures to Australia is in the league of $1 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to direct healthcare costs, which are eye-watering, there is reduced quality of life and lost productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Clinical Excellence Commission has released a report, which highlights the cost and trauma of falls<\/a>. It also gives examples of local solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are plenty of ideas and resources available from NSW Government, including a healthy journey tool kit<\/a> and free personal health coaching<\/a>. This way, we can keep our treasured older people (or us if we’re in that group) upright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elara’s<\/strong>* favourite flower has always been the soft pink and white of her camellia sesanqua<\/em>. It flowers in March and April every year and puts on a glorious show. One day, after hurrying to the letterbox, Elara slipped on the petal-strewn path. She landed in hospital with a broken hip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Identify any hazards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Check around your home for hazards to rectify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Healthy eating <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make your regular diet full of real food, not convenience food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seasonal vegetables, fruit, whole grains like rice, pasta, quinoa, beans, and legumes are delicious, affordable, and satisfying. These complex carbohydrates<\/a><\/strong> will give you the fuel you need for your day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthy sources of protein<\/strong> include nuts, lean cuts of meat, tofu, tempeh, beans, chia seeds, and sunflower seeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calcium<\/strong>-rich foods like green leafy vegetables, oranges, almonds and walnuts, figs, fatty fish, tofu, and yoghurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hydration<\/strong> is crucial, especially when exercising. Drink plenty of water and eat water-rich food like bok choy, celery, cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, oranges, strawberries, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vitamin D <\/strong>is important for bone health, muscle function, and your immune system. We can get Vitamin D from sunshine, foods, and supplements. Our skin creates vitamin D when it gets exposure to ultraviolet sunshine. Eggs and other foods contain vitamin D, though many people require sunlight exposure or supplements to maintain adequate levels. A doctor can advise if testing is appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A vitamin D3 tablet can help raise your levels if you’re low in vitamin D. Speak to your doctor about testing.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In summary, preventing falls is about keeping physically active, fixing or removing any hazards, and eating well to maintain or strengthen your body. You never know, you just might have a lot of fun, make new friendships, and feel better than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This April 2025 is Falls prevention Month<\/a>. Let’s all do our best to get strong, stay active, have fun, and keep upright. Preventing falls is everyone’s business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An internationally-recognised falls prevention program is Stepping On<\/a>. It runs for two hours a week for seven weeks and is targeted at people who live at home, have had a fall, or are fearful of having a fall. Stepping On contains a comprehensive series of helpful topics including hazard prevention, medication, vision, vitamin D, exercise, balance, and safe movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stepping On is part of NSW Health\u2019s ‘Active and Healthy’ Program. Find a local program here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Clinical Excellence Commission has information booklets<\/a> on how useful topics for fall prevention. They include dizziness, eyesight, how to get up if you have a fall, medications, foot care and safe footwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exercise Programs<\/a> as part of NSW Government Falls Prevention month<\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthy Eating and Active Living<\/a> has many over 50s programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After Elara was discharged from hospital, her health care team discussed a range of factors that can support bone health and balance. She was encouraged to review her diet, check her vitamin D levels, and consider strength and balance activities that felt safe and achievable for her. This is general information that doesn’t consider your personal health situation or needs. For advice that’s right for you, nothing beats a consultation with a good doctor. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Falls of people over 65 can be highly traumatic. About 41,000 people are hospitalised in NSW each year. April Falls Month is set on prevention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[108,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-108","category-articles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tFalls Prevention Strategies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Staying active and on your feet is good for your body and mind. These are some of the flow-on benefits of being active. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n
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April Falls Prevention month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tips for starting an exercise program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Resources and links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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At home, Elara moved her beloved camellia into a large ornate pot a few metres from her path. She discarded her threadbare slippers for a sturdier kind with a non-slip sole.
Elara also got herself a free physical health coach<\/a> and began learning about and exploring options of what many people consider after a fall. Gentle tai-chi classes? Strength training? There was even a boxing class designed for older adults.
*Elara is a fictional character used to illustrate a common falls scenario.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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