Healthcare

Understanding and Preventing Falls in Older Adults

Falls are a leading cause of injury in older adults. Our guides provide fall prevention strategies, home safety tips, and advice on mobility aids to help reduce risks.

Illustration of a man falling with a cane flying in the aire

Falls are a significant concern for older adults and should always be taken seriously, even if there is no related injury.

Falls can be a symptom of a new or worsening health problem, potentially leading to severe injuries and affecting independence and quality of life.

This guide is designed to help those supporting an ageing relative or friend to understand the risks associated with falls, identify common causes, implement effective strategies to prevent them, and what to do post-fall to promote safety and wellbeing.

Disclaimer: These guides are not a substitute for medical advice – always seek professional help. Remember, healthcare professionals will not share information about a patient unless they have been permitted to do so.

How This Information Can Help You

Understand Risk Factors

Learn about the factors that increase fall risk in older adults, such as muscle weakness, poor balance, home hazards and certain medications, and how to address these issues.

Create a Safer Environment

Discover strategies for making living spaces safer to help prevent falls, including removing hazards, improving lighting, and installing grab bars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common queries about falls, from understanding their impact to knowing when to seek medical advice.

How to Respond Post-Fall

Guidance on the immediate steps to take after a fall, including injury assessment, seeking medical attention, and how to prevent future incidents.

Guides to Managing Falls

Older gentlemen sitting on the couch with his broken foot up, with a pair of crutches next to him

Tackling Falls and Fractures in Older Adults

Hip Fracture: Causes, Treatment & Recovery

A Key in a lock into a bright home, attached is a keychain of a house

Using a Key Safe: Accessing urgent help for elderly falls

An old staircase, representation of house that needs to be modified when caring for an elderly parent

How to get help with home adaptations in later life

Taking medicine safely and how to avoid side effects

Frequently Asked Questions about Managing Falls

Explore our FAQs to understand more about tackling falls in older adults

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The main risk factors for falls in older adults include muscle weakness, poor balance, vision impairment, certain medication, hazards within the living environment (such as loose rugs or poor lighting), and chronic health conditions. Read our blog for ways you can mitigate and manage these risks.

You can make your loved one’s home safer by removing hazards like loose rugs and clutter, improving lighting in hallways and staircases, installing grab bars in the bathroom, securing electrical cords, and ensuring their living space is well-organised. You can also ask your Local Authority or GP to arrange an expert assessment to identify and rectify and specific hazards.

Yes, exercises that focus on improving strength, balance, and flexibility can effectively reduce fall risk. These exercises should be tailored towards the physical abilities of your loved one to ensure further injury is prevented. Activities like Tai Chi, walking, and water aerobics are great options to consider. If you are unsure of what activities are suitable for your loved one, speak to their GP.

If your loved one falls and no one else is present, it is crucial that they have a way to call for help in an emergency, such as a phone on their person. If your loved one is at risk of suffering from falls, consider installing a personal alarm and monitoring system. The wearer will trigger this after a fall to contact someone. Some alarm systems even have GPS and fall detectors. You can learn more about installing a personal alarm by contacting adult social services at your council. It may also be a good idea to install a key safe to ensure responders can access your loved one’s home in the event of a fall.

Some medications, alone or in combination, can have side effects which can increase the risk of falls. Speak to a GP, nurse or pharmacist about medication and arrange regular reviews. A change in dose or a switch to safer alternatives may be necessary.

Did you find this information helpful? Let us know what you think or pass on some advice to other carents by emailing us at hello@thecarentsroom.com

Last updated: 13/02/2025