‘I’m steady on my feet’: tips to prevent falls

Healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle helps you stay strong. For example:

• healthy eating and drinking
• have your eyes checked regularly
• keep active
• training muscles and balance

On the national website ‘I’m Strong’ There are even more tips on how to prevent falls. These include advice on taking medication and creating a safe home environment.

Fall Risk Test

To work out what you can do to stay steady on your feet, it is important to know whether you are at risk of falling. You can find this out by answering the following questions:

1. Have you had a fall in the last 12 months?
2. Are you worried about falling?
3. Do you find it difficult to move around, walk or keep your balance?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to one or more of the questions, you are at an increased risk of falling. If you are at an increased risk, you can have a personalised assessment. This consists of a number of questions and a walking test. During the test, we sometimes use a ‘smartfloor’. This is a 6-metre-long mat that measures balance and stability whilst a person walks across it.

Low, moderate or high risk of falls

Following the individual assessment, the risk of falling is classified as low, moderate or high.

• In the event of a low risk of falling The advice is to (continue to) exercise independently.
• Residents with a moderate risk of falling can take part in group exercise sessions organised by the municipality of Apeldoorn. Specially trained physiotherapists and exercise therapists lead these sessions at various locations in Apeldoorn. After the fall risk assessment, the staff member will ask for your contact details. You will receive further information about the sessions later, including where and when you can take part.
• Residents with a high risk are usually already known to healthcare professionals due to an underlying medical condition. A personalised care plan is being developed for these residents.

Keep active: how to reduce your risk of falling

It is important for everyone to keep active, even after you have taken part in the exercise programmes offered by Apeldoorn Council. If you are at low or moderate risk of falling, we recommend keeping your muscles strong and continuing to practise your balance. You can do this simply by cycling, walking and taking part in the television programme ‘Nederland in beweging’. It is also possible to take part in group sports or exercise sessions in Apeldoorn. The exercise broker Accres can help you find what suits you best. Special trial sessions are sometimes organised, which you can take part in.

You can look for them yourself or check out:

• Apeldoorn Sports Park
• Apeldoorn Sports Service
• Life Goals Apeldoorn
• Services for people on low incomes
• Activities at meeting places
• Walking groups
• Keep pedalling
• 055 on the Move