… knowing how to and how not to
One of the mums who I meet each week often
mentions how the conductors taught her son very early on how to fall. He falls
a lot because he plays a lot of football and runs a lot of races and climbs a
lot of trees, so his mum notices a lot now seldom he hurts himself when
falling. His muscles are strong so he stays on his feet a lot more but he has
also learnt what to do if he falls.
Our growing Little Princess showed her speech
therapist recently how she can take steps alone, but more importantly for the
child was to show the lady how she knows how to fall without hurting herself,
without bumping her head or hurting her knees.
Fear of falling, teaching falling, prevent falling
These two children are just examples of children
in our groups who have no fear of falling because they know how to do it and how not to. They practice
falling at the same time as practicing standing up. They are also children who
at the same time as practicing falling also practice many other things that
prevent them falling so often.
My dad does not
fall often. I try to teach him how not to
I have been thinking a lot recently about how to
begin working with the elderly. My Dad is the main reason behind my thinking
but I was also speaking to someone in the department of our Association that
has contact with the elderly in the local community. We are planning a project
in the future.
I suspect some part of that project will be on
preventing falls by being aware of the possible dangers about the house and in
the used environment, by exercising to strengthen the body and improve movement
awareness, checking that eyesight is good and that shoes are suitable and of
course it will include when appropriate learning how to fall.
As it often is thoughts and ideas float around
and other things just happen to crop
up at the same time. I discovered this link last week on deans' stroke musings website but I forgot to post it –
The TRIL
Centre with Get Ireland Active announces Falls Awareness Day, Thursday 4th
October
“One in
three people over the age of 65 will fall every year in Ireland. Two-thirds of
this group will fall again within six months, leading to risk of
hospitalisation and significant health decline. As well as physical injuries
suffered, the psychological and social consequences of falling can have a huge
impact on the faller.
People who
fall may suffer depression, anxiety, isolation and loss of independence.
Keep physically active. Exercise can help to improve your balance and your
strength
Falls are
very common in older people, however they are preventable. We have many
treatments that can help people back to full health and independence,
particularly if risk assessment and intervention is provided at an early stage.
Falls in older people can be prevented by increasing awareness of falls risks.”
It looks like I am on the right track and I hope that the work with my colleague
in the community centre begins as soon as the funding becomes available.
