Wednesday 14th August 2024
Honiton Carers enjoyed a brilliant presentation by Lesley Blackmore from the RD&U Falls Prevention team on Wednesday 14th August at The Methodist Church. Lesley’s presentation was really interesting and so very informative. Her enthusiasm, was just wonderful and being a carer herself, she fully understands how hard caring for someone prone to falls can be but also understands how important it is, that carers, ex-carers and anyone over the age of 65 in particular does everything they can to look after themselves. We learned about Devon Urgent Community Response Service (UCR), who provide care to over 18s in their own home within 2 hours. They respond to falls with no serious injury or loss of consciousness which is worth knowing as it is one or the most common reason for the calls the stressed ambulance service receive several times a day. It is a well known fact that there can be a long wait for an ambulance following a none urgent fall. Lesley also introduced us to the ‘Steady on your feet service’, which has a brilliant website
www.steadyonyourfeet.org/devon which offers personalised advise after you have answered a few questions. You can also get general advice and support without answering any questions at all. They do a really good Fall Prevention Guide too. Lesley demonstrated how to get up unaided after a fall and also how to rise slowly from a chair if you are prone to feeling giddy when getting up too quickly.All attendants agreed that this was a very comprehensive and informative presentation much enjoyed by all.Winnie Cameron, chair thanked Lesley for her talk and presented her with a lovely pot plant provided by Stella Ford. Refreshments served by volunteers Stella Ford and Pat Dunlop followed as well as the usual well stocked raffle.
