The Help the Aged MEEFP (Minority Ethnic Elders Falls Prevention) programme was a three year programme of work aiming to raise awareness about the risk of falls among older people from minority ethnic communities. Language, lack of knowledge of what is available and practices that are not suited to communities can make accessing mainstream falls prevention services problematic.

Our programme of work included:

• intensive work with a number of projects across England aiming to develop better links between minority ethnic communities and falls services; and
• the development of a network of those working in falls prevention with older people from minority ethnic communities.
• the production of resources in a variety of community languages.

This programme is now completed but the reports, information about resources and useful links can still be found here.  If you would like to join our network and therefore share in the learning from this programme, please complete our short online survey

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Year One Projects

Five projects from across England worked with a wide range of community groups, including elders from Chinese, Greek Cypriot and Asian communities.

A brief summary of Year One projects and what they achieved is below. Download the Year One Progress Report (PDF) here.

Barnet
The project in Barnet, North London linked the Primary Care Trust, Age Concern and local voluntary groups to work with members of the Asian community. A programme of health sessions aimed at improving health and well-being, focusing on the importance of an active lifestyle with regular exercise sessions.

Camden
The ‘Well and Wise’ project in Camden ran a series of sessions with the Camden Cypriot Womens Organisation. They covered a range of health issues including falls, culminating in a successful sloppy slipper exchange.

Manchester
With the second largest Chinese population outside London, Manchester South & Central Primary Care Trusts were keen to equip people with falls awareness information. Over 200 Chinese elders attended a roadshow with talks on medicine management, diet, footwear, home safety, osteoporosis and exercise.

Portsmouth
The Local Implementation Team and Portsmouth Prevention Network for Older People worked together with the Chinese community to create a video for the community. Featuring elders from the local community, the video is voiced in Cantonese and gives advice on how to reduce their risk of falling.

West Euston
The Third Age project in West Euston worked with South Asian elders, in particular Bengali men to promote falls awareness. They implemented a number of home visits to take the falls message to isolated members of the community.

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Year Two Projects

Four projects based across the country (see below), targeted a number of minority ethnic elder groups. Their experiences are summarised in Year Two Progress Report (PDF).

Doncaster
Doncaster Chinese Elders Project used their budget in a number of ways including home visits by volunteers, awareness raising days, leaflets and other printed information in Chinese script.

Leeds
This project with Leeds Older Persons Forum linked seven local organisations. The project enabled them to break down barriers between BME groups and increase falls awareness through information and exercise sessions.

Birmingham
As a direct request by local older people, the Heart of Birmingham PCT trained representatives from minority groups in Birmingham in falls awareness. Some of them also trained as EXTEND teachers to provide classes in the local community.

London
The Latin American Elderly Project based in London developed drama classes focused on falls prevention, culminating in two performances by the older people.

Resources

The following resources are available for BME older people and health professionals working with them.

Avoiding slips, trips and broken hips advice leaflet (Download only)

Punjabi

Gujarati

Urdu

Chinese

Be strong, Be steady
Chair-based strength and balance exercise video available in Punjabi (Urdu insert), Bengali or Chinese.

Available to order from the Online Shop or order by calling 0844 557 5336

Step to the Future
Aerobic endurance and strength exercise bi-lingual DVD in Hindi and English.

Available to order from the Online Shop or order by calling 0844 557 5336

Useful Websites

Policy Research Institute on Ageing and Ethnicity (PRIAE)
Prevention of Falls Network Europe (ProFaNE)
BMESpark

Something to add? Email falls@helptheaged.org.uk with your suggestions

Preventing Falls is part of Advice and Information - empowering older people, their families and carers.