Our falls prevention service provides assessment, advice and exercise for older people who are at risk of falling.

The service aims to prevent falls and unnecessary admission to hospital by seeing a patient before an injurious fall occurs or after a fall to rebuild strength, balance and confidence.

Our falls service works in the community to support people at risk of falls by helping them to maintain active, independent lives.

We provide assessment, advice and exercise to older people who are at risk of falling to avoid fall related injuries, unnecessary hospital admissions and premature transfer to long-term care.

We offer a range of services focusing on:

  • Investigating the cause of your falls
  • Assessing your home environment
  • Developing an action plan to help prevent falls in the future
  • Group exercise and education classes

This service is for Brent residents over 65 years of age who:

  • Have a fear of falling
  • Have a history of falls or near misses,
  • Lack confidence with their balance and walking
  • Have a diagnosis of osteoporosis or fragility fracture

Read our patient information leaflet

Provides assessment, advice, exercise and strength and balance groups for older people who are at risk of falling.

The service aims to prevent falls and unnecessary admission to hospital by seeing a patient before an injurious fall occurs or after a fall to rebuild stength, balance and confidence.

For more information, read our leaflet.

Specialist physiotherapists encourage active ageing and independence through “home response” assessment, falls risk strategies and exercise provision.

“Staying Steady” falls prevention exercise and advice classes are run in a community setting; these are time limited, ability graded with outcome measures. “Staying steady” exercise and advice classes are held at Morden Baptist Church on Mondays. There is an “Otago” home exercise programme for those not eligible for the class.

Public Health role promotes information to prevent falls and unnecessary visits to hospital.

The service has community partnerships with LAS, LFB, social services and voluntary agencies.

Patients can find out more about the service via the Merton Single Point of Access (SPA) team on 0333 241 4242.

Referrals may be received from health professionals and others working with frail and elderly people.

Who can refer

  • Healthcare professionals
  • Carers
  • Patients can self-refer

Contact the team

Any health or social care professional; the service no longer accepts referrals directly from patients.

Referrers and patients can contact the team by:

Referral form

Referrals are accepted through medical and health care professionals and self-referrals can be now made through our community partners.

Referral form

Download our Merton referral form

Inclusion

  • 18 years and over
  • Barnet GP registered
  • Patients with a history of falls, osteoporosis and problems with balance
  • Patient is medically stable and independently mobile with or without a walking aid

Exclusion

Medically unstable, acute uncontrolled mental health issues or problems, preventing engagement in therapy, newly diagnose/active neurological conditions including strokes. A patient with Parkinson's disease to be referred to our specialist Parkinson's Unit.

Inclusion

Adults with a GP in Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham or Kensington & Chelsea who are…

  • Medically fit and well
  • Falling or at risk of falls
  • Able and willing to engage in a group physical activity programme
  • Likely to benefit from a group physical activity programme

Exclusion

Adults who…

  • Cannot leave their home easily
  • Are at risk of imminent hospitalisation due to falls
  • Fall due to alcohol or substance misuse
  • Are unable to follow instructions
  • Have an unstable mental health condition
  • Are unwilling or unable to engage in a group physical activity programme

Inclusion

  • Adult over 18 with a GP in Merton
  • Must have had a fall, potential to fall or a fear of falling in the last 12 months
  • Must be mobile with or without a walking aid
  • Must be medically stable and uninjured

Exclusion

  • Already receiving physiotherapy or has rehabilitation needs
  • No falls from heights

Yes – home visits are available for home environment assessments and for dementia sufferers.

Yes – home visits are available for this service.

Home response visits are offered in the first instance from a specialist physiotherapist who undertakes a falls risk assessment and will give help and advice including a personalised home exercise programme.

Patients are seen in their place of residence between 9.00am and 16.00pm.

The falls prevention service is part of the integrated adult therapies service. It works closely with colleagues from HARI (Assessment and Rehabilitation) and MERIT urgent (prevention of admission).

There are also strong links with the domiciliary physiotherapy teams and the neuro-rehabilitation team.

Some helpful resources:

St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing

  • Address: Exmoor Street, London, W10 6DZ
  • Phone: 020 8102 5494
  • 8.30am – 4.30pm in numerous health and community centres across the Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham.

Finchley Memorial Hospital

  • Address: Granville Road, North Finchley, London, N12 0JE

Morden Baptist Church

  • Address: Crown Lane Morden, Surrey SM4 5BL
  • “Staying Steady” exercise and advice classes are held here on a Monday.

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