Older People

With falls by older people living in the community now estimated to cost Scotland’s health and care services more than £471m every year, a new campaign has begun that encourages older people to avoid falling. The City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian have jointly launched Five Small Steps To Stay On Your Feet which gives people simple tips to try and prevent falls and also information about what to do if they do suffer one.

A major new health survey involving almost 700 older people in Derry’s Triax area has found that almost 60% suffer from low mood and anxiety related conditions.

Britain’s public transport system is failing older people, according to a new study. A third of British pensioners never use public transport despite being eligible for a free bus pass, and half use it less than once a month. The most common complaint from those aged 65 and over was that public transport is “not convenient and does not go where you want”, the report (pdf) by the International Longevity Centre thinktank and charity Age UK found.

Age Sector Platform has teamed up with Phoenix Natural Gas to offer an incentive for people aged 60 or over who may be interested in switching to gas central heating.  The charity has helped to launch the 60+ Saver Scheme offering people aged 60 or over in the greater Belfast area a grant of £500 towards the cost of switching. Read more here.

Medical guidance on how to care for older people with dementia following a hip fracture is 'sadly lacking' according to researchers at the University of East Anglia.

Almost half of all people who suffer hip fractures also have dementia. But a Cochrane Review published today reveals there is no conclusive evidence on how to care for this particularly vulnerable group.