Fire service to help older people age safely

Ageing Safely Week, which is being led by the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), has been scheduled to take place around the UK Older People’s Day on October 1.

In Calderdale prevention staff will be attending all dementia and Alzheimer’s cafés throughout the week. They will provide a fire safety talk and take referrals for home fire safety checks.

They will also visit day centres to meet with staff and carers of elderly people who choose to live in their own homes.

Assistant Chief Officer Dave Walton, Director of Service Delivery, said: “Our prevention staff and firefighters work with community groups on a daily basis, engaging with older people to promote safety in the home. This week is an excellent opportunity to highlight our commitment and showcase the services we offer.”

Statistics show that the risk of dying in a fire for those aged 65 and over is more than twice as high as the average risk for all ages. And with an ever-increasing older population – 23 per cent of the UK will be aged 65 and over by 2035 – activities to help older people prevent fires and keep themselves safe are likely to form a growing part of the fire service’s work over the coming years.