How should the fall accidents be reduced - Socialstyrelsen campaigns in Oxelösund

The campaign deals with the fact that fall accidents can often be prevented through preventative measures and informs about what one can do to reduce the risk of falling. This year, the National Board of Health is highlighting three themes: exercise, food and medicine.

- As an older person you may not eat as much as you need to do. You need to make sure you eat energy-rich foods, snacks and get fluid. When it comes to exercise, you would like the elderly to exercise strength twice a week and avoid sitting still for a long time. The medicine is about maybe eating many different types of medicines that make you dizzy, so it is important that you get someone able to look at how your medicines go together, says Alexandra Westin, public health coordinator in Oxelösund municipality.

Fall accidents are seen as a major public health problem.

- Many elderly people are falling and it causes a lot of suffering and great costs. There are about 1,000 people who die due to cases each year, which is very unfortunate.

On Monday, Alexandra Westin, along with two from the municipal rehab, was in a grocery store in Oxelösund to inform about the campaign. Oxelösund's judo club also participated and gave tips.

- Those if anyone knows how to fall in a good way.

Most accidents occur in the home.

- There are very simple things to think about. Like not having cables lying over the floor or carpets that you can stumble upon, and asking for help if you change curtains for example.

In recent years, the proportion of fall accidents has decreased.

- What I would think is that you have started to see what a big problem it is and that you have started to work much more with it.

Last year, however, there was an increase in the number of fall accidents in Sörmland. Why is it hard to say Westin, who is otherwise very happy with the information day in Oxelösund.

- I am very pleasantly surprised at how many people were interested in coming and talking to us today. There have been a lot of good and positive conversations. We may have talked to 200 people.