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 

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.
01642 944484 / ste-tr.fallsteam@nhs.net

Social Services
For further assessment, if you are struggling to manage around your home:
Redcar and Cleveland - 01642 065070
Middlesbrough - 01642 065070

Age UK Teesside
Age UK Teesside has a wide range of services to help over 50s in Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland to achieve the best out of their lives, their finances, social life and health & wellbeing
01642 805500 / info@ageukteesside.org.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. 
0800 5875 184 / stayingputagency@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Connect - Monitoring and Response service
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, and we pride ourselves on the quality of our 24-hour monitoring and response service.
01642 726009 / controlroom@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).
01642 726009 / telecare@middlesbrough.gov.uk

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, as well as keeping in touch with patients when they return home.
01642 726500 / hospital2home@middlesbrough.gov.uk

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

For a full list of organisations in your local area that can support you, help you to stay active, and improve your home safety, please visit our help and contacts section.

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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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