“200 WELSH PENSIONERS A DAY FALL ON PAVEMENTS” - Charity highlights danger of falls on International Day of Older Persons

DANGEROUS PAVEMENTS will top the agenda at an event in Cardiff today to mark International Day of Older Persons (1 October).

Help the Aged in Wales will be at the Welsh Assembly to draw AMs’ attention to a seemingly day-to-day issue that can have life-or-death consequences for older people.

Says Help the Aged in Wales Director, Ana Palazón:

“We estimate that as many as 200 older people fall over on damaged pavements in Wales every day. 10 per cent of older people who suffer a fall require medical attention and 20 per cent of older people will die within a year of suffering a hip fracture caused by a fall. Damaged pavements are potentially a matter of life-or-death for older people and we need urgent action to tackle this problem.

“A recent report by Help the Aged reveals how some Welsh councils are holding back money they could be spending on repairing dangerous pavements, to cover compensation claims. The report - Falling Short, claims this is because of a fear factor among councils over high legal costs and compensation payouts.

Ana Palazón comments:

“Councils’ priorities should be older people’s health and well-being – they should not have to worry about compensation claims. We know for example of one Welsh council that in 2007 spent about £620,000 on pavements as and when they became damaged, but at the same time was holding back £948,000 to cover legal costs. We feel some of the funds councils hold in legal and compensation cost reserves could be better spent on making pavements safer and councils should be investing more money to keep pavements safe”, she concludes.

Mr Howard Jones is in his seventies and lives in Rhiwbina in Cardiff.

Having already fallen over once, breaking his hip and arm and being hospitalised for weeks, Howard was very worried when he tripped on a damaged pavement near his home.

Says Howard:

“I have fallen over three times on the pavement near my house. The first time, I tripped over my walking stick, and broke my hip and arm and was hospitalised for three weeks. The second time I fell, it was because of a damaged paving stone.

Luckily, Howard did not suffer any serious injuries in the second fall, but the experience was distressing, as he explains:

“When I fell the second time on the damaged paving stone, I was very shaken and I turned white. Having been through the trauma of my first fall, I was very worried that I would be hospitalised again. I am now super careful when I walk on the pavement.

He concludes:

“Having had a couple of falls in recent months, I feel it imperative that pavements should be kept in a good state of repair. This is particularly important for the older generation – many of whom have to resort to walking sticks for some form of disability. The campaign introduced by Help the Aged in Wales can do nothing but good.”

Wednesday’s event is being sponsored by Joyce Watson AM, who says:

“Regrettably, Howard’s story is too familiar and the statistics presented here today show just how dangerous a fall on the street can be for an older person.

“The report highlights a very serious issue - it is imperative that local councils, with the support of agencies like Help the Aged in Wales, invest to make the repairs to pavements that are urgently needed and that really could be the difference between life and death.

“With the Assembly Government today publishing a new Intergenerational Strategy and the Commissioner for Older People presenting the first annual report to the First Minister, this is a very timely report - there is a real political focus in Wales on the concerns and wellbeing of older people.”

Source of Story: Help the Aged

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