Home Safety

Over half of all falls occur at home, in the place where we spend most of our time. But identifying and addressing hazards can significantly reduce the risk of falls.

Slips, trips, and falls in the home are common and may be related to: 

• Daily activities - Everyday tasks like getting in and out of bed or the bath and getting on or off a chair or the toilet can become challenging as we age, increasing the risk of falls.
• Home hazards - Hazards such as loose rugs, cluttered walkways, inadequate lighting, and slippery floors can all lead to falls.

Preventing Falls in and Around the Home

Falls prevention in and around the home often relies on "common sense," but it's not always easy to identify potential dangers. Our home safety section is designed to help you: 

• Identify hazards - Discover potential slip, trip, and fall hazards in your home. Learn how to spot risks like loose rugs, slippery surfaces and poor lighting.
• Take action - Find practical tips and step-by-step instructions on how to remove or reduce these hazards to create a safer living environment.

Find Support

Please find below useful links, relevant resources and contact information. All links open in a new window and may include links to websites, videos, and PDF files for downloading and printing. 

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Local Support 

Visit our Help and Contacts section
Find local help and support
Find help to stay active in your area
Find local home safety support

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Falls Prevention Team

South Tees Falls Team
If you require general falls prevention advice and support or don't know where to start, please contact the Falls Team at Low Grange Health Centre, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays, between the hours of 8.30am and 4.30pm.
Phone: 01642 944484
Email: ste-tr.fallsteam@nhs.net

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Social Services

If you are struggling to manage around your home, contact your GP surgery and ask to be referred for a rehabilitation assessment.
Redcar and Cleveland: 01642 065070
Middlesbrough: 01642 065070

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Home and Fire Safety Checks

Cleveland Fire Brigade Safety Check 
Our free Online Home Fire Safety Check is the quickest and easiest way to get personalised advice for your home. The tool provides personalised fire safety advice based on each household’s home, behaviours and lifestyle. 

Offering Safer Homes Visits to people who may be at greater risk from fire. These visits can include our trained staff visiting your home to provide safety advice, conduct smoke alarm checks, and fit free alarms if needed.

Hartlepool: 01429 851258
Middlesbrough: 01642 811650
Redcar and Cleveland: 01642 777651
Stockton-on-Tees: 01642 366180

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Support Services

Age UK Teesside
Age UK Teesside has a wide range of services to help over-50s in Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland make the most of their lives, finances, social lives, and health & wellbeing.
Phone: 01642 805500
Email: info@ageukteesside.org.uk

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Sensory Support

Sensory Support (Middlesbrough)
The Sensory Support Service offers advice and support to Middlesbrough residents who are D/deaf or have hearing loss, are blind or partially sighted, or have dual sensory loss.
Phone: 01642 065070 
Email: adultaccessteam@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Sensory Support Redcar and Cleveland
If you have sight or hearing loss, we can provide information, advice and services to help you identify what you need to live as independently as possible. We can provide information and advice about support or equipment to help you retain independence if you have a sensory need, i.e. hearing impairment or loss, or visual impairment or loss.

Teesside & District Society for the Blind
It is our mission to help blind and partially sighted people stay independent and improve their quality of life.
Phone: 01642 247518
Email: manager@teessideblind.co.uk

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Home Adaptations and Support

AskSARA - Redcar and Cleveland
Practical advice and guidance to support safety and independence around the home. Our online tool will provide you with impartial advice about suitable equipment and assistive technology to help you live independently and maintain your lifestyle.

Handyperson and Adaptations, Redcar and Cleveland
We offer assistance to older, disabled and vulnerable people by providing advice on housing options, minor and major housing adaptations, as well as delivering a handyperson service for small jobs.
Phone: 01642 771500
Email: HandyPersonAndAdaptations@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk 

Middlesbrough Staying Put Agency
Middlesbrough Staying Put Agency (SPA) is a home improvement agency that offers specialist support and advice to older, vulnerable, and disabled people to help them remain safe and independent in their own homes.
Phone: 0800 5875 184
Email: stayingputagency@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Middlesbrough Assistive Technology
Assistive technology means devices or systems that can help you do everyday things that might be hard or impossible otherwise. It can help with a range of difficulties, including memory and movement problems. It can also be called 'technology-enabled care' (TEC).
Phone: 01642 726009
Email: telecare@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Stay Safe and Warm – Cleveland Fire Brigade
Do you know someone who is struggling to stay warm in their home? Our award-winning Stay Safe and Warm scheme is completely FREE and open to anyone living in Cleveland; no age restrictions apply. It offers access to heaters and other equipment as required (following a free home assessment). So whether it’s a short-term issue such as a boiler breakdown or an ongoing heating issue, we can help.
Phone: 03067 990038

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Pendant Alarm and Response Services

Connect Monitoring and Response - Middlesbrough
We offer emergency help and support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Connect is easy to use and gives you extra security and peace of mind. All of our staff are highly-trained and qualified. We're committed to helping our residents stay safe and independent in their own homes.
Phone: 01642 726009
Email: controlroom@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Beyond Housing Reach and Response
For pendant alarm and telecare services in Redcar and Cleveland.
Phone: 01642 771339

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Other Support

Middlesbrough Hospital to Home Service
Supporting older, vulnerable and disabled Middlesbrough residents to live independently when discharged from hospital. Our Prevention Liaison Officer works with hospitals to support discharges and keeps in touch with patients when they return home.
Phone: 01642 726500
Email: hospital2home@middlesbrough.gov.uk 

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Helpful Links 

Visit our Home Safety section
Home adaptations, care services and equipment - NHS
Identifying hazards at home - NHS Inform
Make your Home Safer - Age UK
Avoiding falls within your home - ROSPA
Preventing falls checklist - ROSPA
Preventing falls in your home: a room-by-room guide - RoSPA (video) 

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More on this website

Visit our Information and Advice section
Visit our Staying Active section
Visit our Home Safety section
Visit our Help and Contacts section 
Start your online Self-Assessment

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