Falls are the most common accident in the home.  Many factors can affect balance and mobility, including medical conditions, certain medications and even diet.

Many people who have suffered a fall find that their confidence is affected, and this can result in avoiding going out and becoming less mobile.

Our Falls Service is a referral service from a GP, nurse or other health practitioner, or you can refer yourself into the service. You can be referred to us if you have recently had a fall, or a series of falls, and you or your doctor, nurse or other health practitioner feels that you would benefit from our specialist service.

What can we offer?

HOPE Specialist Falls Service offers a number of options designed to help improve mobility, stability and confidence.

The programme is tailored to your needs and abilities, so no matter how little you can do, we can design a programme to help. We will aim to set goals together, and you will be monitored throughout the programme to ensure your safety.

The type of exercise you will do entirely depends on you, but the overall aim will be to strengthen your muscles and improve flexibility, balance and coordination. You will be part of a small group of older people.

The Falls Service offers a number of options to referred patients, namely:

Falls Rehabilitation Programme – an eight-week, twice-weekly programme of exercise and education, which you will attend as part of a group of up to ten patients. The programme is tailored to your needs and abilities, so no matter how little you think you can do, we can design a programme to help.

Falls Home Rehab – a six-week tailored programme of exercise, delivered in your own home. The programme is flexible to work around you and any appointments or other commitments you have. It will utilise the home environment and can also incorporate outdoor activity practice, such as walking outside or functional tasks like hanging out the washing and gardening.

Virtual Falls Rehab – an eight-week, twice-weekly programme of exercise and education, similar to our Falls Rehabilitation programme, but which can be delivered to you in your own home.

Fallstop – a one-off group session, which involves advice and education about:

• What can cause a fall and how to prevent them
• The importance of staying active
• Keeping walking aids safe
• Overcoming difficulties with accessing transport
• Getting out and about

Some feedback from previous patients:

“It has given me the confidence to go to the shop on my own. I’ve got my confidence back.”

“I am able to do the exercises without worrying that I may fall, because of the way the clinic has taught me to THINK first.”

Once you’ve completed your rehab, we offer other activities to maintain your improvement, these include:

Tai Chi – weekly sessions at our gym and community venues

Chair-Based Exercise – weekly sessions in the community

Volunteering – you can become a Falls Buddy

HOPE Choir – a friendly choir who meet regularly (See below for more details)

Rehab Plus – There is the opportunity to attend weekly maintenance sessions once you’ve completed your programme.

HOPE Singers

Originally formed in 2013 to help people with chronic lung conditions, the choir now accepts patients who have completed a Falls or Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme, as well as volunteers.

Singing helps to improve diaphragmatic breathing, reduce breathlessness and feelings of breathlessness. Singing together as a group also improves quality of life by reducing anxiety, depression and social isolation. It also increases overall health and well-being. (Asthma and Lung UK, 2023)

Members of Hope Singers find it to be a lifeline from social exclusion and find that it has a huge positive impact on their physical and mental health.

If you enjoy singing and would like more information on the choir, please contact Claire Lewis on 01472 313400.

The choir meets every Wednesday at Open Door, Albion Street, Grimsby DN32 7DL 10.00am – 11.30am. It is a free activity. (Please contact Claire first, as sometimes Hope Singers are out and about giving performances in the community.)