Health chiefs in Cornwall have pledged to spend more money in an effort to prevent elderly people from falling over at home and ending up in hospital.
Up to 58,000 people in the county are likely to fall over every year with up to 2,900 needing hospital treatment.
NHS Kernow, the Clinical Commissioning Group for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is to spend a further £160,000 on new schemes, to be directed at helping around 3,500 people in their homes.
Volunteers will be recruited in up to ten areas of the county where the greatest need is felt to be. Following training in falls prevention, they will make home visits to talk to people about their circumstances. With the help of a checklist, volunteers will point out areas in homes where falls could potentially happen.
They will also help the people they visit with foot care and strength and balance exercises.
Rachel Murray, an NHS Kernow commissioner, said: "Investing in fall-prevention services will have a real impact on patients with long-term conditions or who are frail and elderly, as these are the people most vulnerable to falling and potentially suffering hip fractures.
"A fall for these patients can have a devastating impact on their independence and quality of life and result in long stays in hospital."
