Hospitals trial foam flooring for elderly fallers

In attempts to reduce serious injuries elderly patients, hospitals are to consider the introduction of shock absorbent flooring.

Many sports halls use this type of flooring which has a memory foam backing with properties of shock absorbency.

Studies at the University of Portsmouth are looking into how effective the material is and how it might help in hospitals. On the Isle of Wight at St Mary’s Hospital, at York Teaching Hospital, at Harrogate District Hospital and at Ellesmere Port Hospital, trials of the material are being carried out.

Falls are said to be a major cause of death for people over 75. Amy Drahota, of Portsmouth University’s school of health sciences and social work, said: “Older people are especially vulnerable to falls because they are more unsteady on their feet and this can be worse when they are unwell in hospital and walking in unfamiliar surroundings.”

Ms Drahota went on to say that just under a third of people over the age of 65 had at least one fall a year, and some 15 per cent fell at least twice.

Charitable funding has been provided by the Dunhill Medical Trust and the National Osteoporosis Society for the Helping Injury Prevention in Hospitalised Older People (Hip-hop) study.

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