North Canterbury News: July 01, 2021

NEWS
16 The North Canterbury News, July 1, 2021
Work needed to reduce risks
By DAVID HILL
Anew study hopes to reduce the risk of
falls.
AUniversity of Otago study involving
North Canterbury residents hopes to
better understand ‘‘street conditions’’
and their ‘‘relationship with falling
outdoors’’.
Senior lecturer Dr Angela Curl says
falling over and the fear of falling can
raise anxiety about walking outside,
limiting out of home activities.
‘‘We know the condition of footpaths
and urban environments impact how
comfortable people feel walking, how
much they walk and [leads to] afear of
falling.’’
She says 44 people participated in a
study across 12 workshops, with four
workshops held in Kaiapoi and
Rangiora.
Participants ranged in age from 32 to 92
years, with the average age being 69.
‘‘We did recruit through Age Concern
and mainly targeted older adults, but we
didn’t restrict who could attend. There
was quite arange of people in terms of
mobility issues,’’ Dr Curl says.
‘‘Most people were very active and,
despite concern about falling and often
feeling unsafe, they did get out and walk
alot.
‘‘For some people this means driving to
areserve, or getting out of town, but not
everybody can do this so we need to
ensure neighbourhood streets are safe
from risk of falls.’’
Once people have afall it can reduce
self­confidence, Dr Curl says.
‘‘Sometimes people who had been very
committed walkers, start walking less
and might go out in the car even just
down to the local shops.
‘‘In one case someone had stopped
taking neighbours’ dogs and children for
walks, showing the impact on connection
Stronger ...
Improving your strength and balance will help reduce the risk of afall.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
and community.’’
She says 40 percent of participants had
fallen in the last 12 months, with 70% of
those having fallen more than once,
while the other 60% ‘‘expressed ahigh
level of concern about falling’’.
The research team has used data from
St John Ambulance as well as
participants to identify where falls have
occurred.
An audit tool has been developed, with
2500 locations audited.
Almost all of the locations had at least
one obstruction, such as poles, signs,
overhanging vegetation, manholes or
grates and litter bins. Participants also
commented on bus stops, uneven ground,
rough surfaces, chairs and tables outside,
changing levels across driveways and
cars parked on the footpath.
Dr Curl says there is more data
analysis to be completed and the
research team will continue to
disseminate data at workshops.
‘‘There are things individuals can do
such as the ‘steady as you go’ falls
prevention classes that work on balance
and stability, but there is aneed for more
consideration of the needs of the ageing
population in the design of our towns and
cities.’’
She encourages people to report any
potential hazards by using
SnapSendSolve.
Forums for
aged care
Forums arebeing held in Rangiora to
support those whowork in theaged
caresector.
ElderCareCanterbury forums are
opentoanyone interested in working
together to improve health andwellbeing
servicesfor Canterbury’s older
people. Participants include awide
range of interested organisations
and individuals, withforums
fulfilling anumberofimportant
roles.
It is an opportunity for people from
across the aged care services sector
to network and shareinformation, to
discuss problems that older people
are facing when using health and
well­beingservices, and for
collaboration between providersof
services for older people.
The forums provideamechanism
to facilitate twoway communication
between the CanterburyDistrict
Health Board (CDHB) and other
agencies and an opportunity to
provide feedback to theCDHB on
policies and issuesaffecting older
people’shealth services.
Participants canbeco­opted to
participate in various projects and
focus groups.
Local hui are held from 1.30pm to
3.30pminthe Wyllie Room,John
KnoxCentre, corner of High and
KingStreets in Rangiora, with the
nextforums being held on
Wednesday, July21,and Wednesday,
November 10.
For more informationorto
contribute, pleasecontact Elder
CareCanterbury co­ordinator Helen
Rossphone (03) 3638225,027­5577372
or email helen.ross@psusi.org.nz.
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