Falls (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)
Unmet needs
- There are insufficient opportunities for older adults to become or remain active in the region. A review of available classes in the local authority leisure centres reveals three different activities aimed at older adults; Knit and natter groups, isolated rambling dates, and high intensity interval training (HIIT). None of these are appropriate for older adults looking to become or remain active.
- There is insufficient capacity of occupational therapy services to provide home safety assessments, equipment recommendations, and environmental changes to address fall prevention. The current waiting time is approximately 4 months for an OT visit from the Health Services.
- Pressures on GPs prevent them from effective education and investigation of falls and fall risk of older adults. They are also unable to prescribe walking aids to patients directly thus requiring a further wait for referral to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist. This puts patients at unnecessary risk.
- The Community Falls Service and the hospital based Falls and Syncope Service are struggling to meet current demands with patients waiting from 5 to 10 weeks for an assessment. This waiting time puts patients at risk for fall and fracture in the interim.
- Due to a restructuring process that is not yet complete, the level of support that Age UK in South Tyneside can continue to provide is in question.
- Leisure centres fail to offer a range of activities for a variety of age groups focusing primarily on children and adults under the age of 65.
