Saggy Slipper Swap
Published on 19 January 2018 03:23 PM
Free slippers for older people in Portsmouth PO1 - PO6
Age UK Portsmouth is enabling older people in Portsmouth to throw away their old slippers and swap them for a brand new pair in a new project called the ‘Saggy Slipper Swap’.
The aim is to help older people reduce the likelihood of having a fall, trip or slip in their home. Walking indoors barefoot, or in socks, have been shown to increase the risk of falls in older people and it is recommended that older people should wear footwear with low heels and firm slip-resistant soles both inside and outside the home.
The full financial cost of falls to the NHS and social care has not been calculated but hip fractures alone cost over £2.3bn per year. Therefore by maximising safe slipper use, Age UK Portsmouth hopes to offer an alternative fall prevention strategy.
Carol Elliott, Business Development Manager for Age UK Portsmouth, says “Unfortunately many older people wear slippers that are loose, worn, or backless and this can be one of a number of common causes for older people falling. We are delighted to have won funding from Portsmouth City Council’s Lottery Fund to provide 100 people with new slippers.
"Christopher Shoes, a local independent shoe shop trading in Portsmouth since 1910, have also been incredibly generous in providing us with a discount on the purchase of the slippers. So we hope that in a small way we can help mitigate against the risk of some older people falling."
Mr Cornish was delighted to be throwing away his old slippers when Age UK Portsmouth’s Living Well Coordinator, Karl Harris, delivered his new pair.
For more information please call us on 023 9286 2121, email: enquiries@ageukportsmouth.org.uk or pop in to speak to us at The Bradbury Centre, 16 - 18 Kingston Road, Portsmouth PO1 5RZ.
Saggy Slipper Swap is funded by Portsmouth Lottery.
