A SCHEME aimed at combating the number of falls among older people is being launched next week.

Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Sedgefield Borough Council are working with other agencies to help raise awareness about the link between medication and falls among older people.

The project will be launched at a Pills and Potions open day in the Methodist Church Hall, Shildon, on Monday, at 1pm.

The idea behind the scheme is to identify those people who are at a high risk of falling and assess their needs.

It is hoped the assessment will minimise the risk of falling by looking at such strategies as taking regular exercise, wearing sensible footwear and appropriate foot care, reporting possible side effects of medication to doctors, having regular eye tests and taking precautions around the home.

The team working on the initiative is made up of representatives from GP practices, Age Concern, Warden Carelink, social services, the borough council, Bishop Auckland General Hospital and a home carer agency.

Christine Scollen, an osteoporosis prevention specialist nurse from Sedgefield PCT, is managing the project.

She said: "We don't want older people to feel that falling is an inevitable part of getting older, because it is not.

"We are hoping that small changes in practice will make a big difference to people's lives.

"Over the next year the team will look at reasons why older people fall and try to reduce these.

"One of the things we will look at are home safety checks to identify fall hazards in the home, for example poor lighting, loose carpets and trailing wires.

"We will also run local events to raise awareness about fall prevention.''

Another aspect of the work will involve screening for osteoporosis, a condition which reduces bone density, to help in giving appropriate advice to elderly people.

Mrs Scollen said: "We will check to see if older people who fall have symptoms of osteoporosis. We will also look for risk factors for the condition.''

Richard Morris, a pharmaceutical advisor with the PCT, will be on hand at the Pills and Potions afternoon to give advice to people about the links between medication and falling.