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Preventing falls
Falls can happen to anyone, but they’re more common and more significant as we get older. They can result in a trip to the hospital or a move into an aged care home.
The likelihood of a fall increases partly because of the natural changes that happen as our bodies age – our muscles get weaker and our joints stiffer.
- The good news
- Risk factors
- Health problems
- Keep yourself active
- Footwear
- Fall-proofing your surroundings
- Don't fall for it! Falls can be prevented
- Medical and personal alarms
The good news
- most falls are preventable
- injury from falls can be minimised, and
- ageing does not have to mean a loss of independence.
Risk factors
Some older people are more likely to fall than others, especially if they’ve fallen in the past six months, but there are many things you can do to reduce your risk of falling.
Talk to your doctor about any falls you’ve had. Don’t just dismiss them as clumsiness. Falls can be a sign of a new medical problem, muscle weakness, balance problems or medication side effects. It will help your doctor if you give him or her information about the time of day you fell, what you were doing and how you were feeling just before the fall. Your family may be able to fill in the details if you can't remember.
Talk to a physiotherapist about balance and strengthening exercises or activities that will suit you, and how to manage any pain you might have.
A physiotherapist can also advise you about whether a walking aid, such as a stick or frame, would help increase your steadiness and confidence. But please note, it’s important that walking aids are properly adjusted and maintained.
Remove any slipping or tripping hazards, and make sure you have adequate lighting at night.
Health problems
Some health problems make it more likely you will fall. The most common of these are:
- stroke
- Parkinson’s disease (more information)
- arthritis
- postural hypotension (low blood pressure)
- dizziness
- diabetes
- depression
- dementia (more information)
- incontinence (more information), and
- poor nutrition.
Even short-term illnesses (such as the flu and other infections) or surgery can temporarily increase your risk of falling.
For more information about your medical condition how you can manage it better and information about support organisations in your area contact:
- Commonwealth Carelink Centres (more information)
- Health Insite
- Nutrition Australia (more information)
- Diabetes Australia (more information)
- your local library
- your local council
- Your local community health centre
- National Continence Helpline (more information) 1800 330 066
- Arthritis Australia (more information)
- National Heart foundation
- Cancer Council of Australia
Keep yourself active
Inactive or unfit people tend to have poorer balance and weaker muscles, which all increase the risk of falling. Added to this, if you feel unsteady you’re less likely to do much walking. When you walk less your muscles get weaker, your joints get stiffer and your balance gets worse.
To stay active contact:
- Call the Aged Care Information Line (more information) on 1800 500 853 for your free copy of ‘Choose Health: Be Active’ a physical activity guide for older Australians
- Commonwealth Carelink Centres to help find physiotherapists or accredited exercise or fitness instructors or activities in your area
- your local library for booklets and videos on physical activity for older people
- your local council for information about activities in your area, and
- community health centres and day therapy centresi for physiotherapy services.
Footwear
As we age, our feet can change shape and lose some feeling. This changes the way we walk and affects our balance. Also, painful or swollen feet can make it difficult to walk and some shoes or slippers can increase the chances of a fall.
What you can do:
- See a podiatrist or doctor if you have painful or swollen feet, tingling or pins and needles in your feet, or if you have any changes in the shape of your feet (for example, bunions).
- Wear comfortable, firm-fitting, flat shoes with a low broad heel and soles that grip.
- Don’t wear poorly fitted slippers or walk in socks.
- If you have difficulty finding suitable shoes because of foot problems, ask your podiatrist for the names of specialist shoe stores.
- Ask your podiatrist or physiotherapist to suggest ways to improve circulation, decrease swelling and reduce pain in the legs and feet.
Where you can find help or advice
- Commonwealth Carelink Centres on 1800 052 222
- Podiatry Association Council, which can provide names of podiatrists in your area
- local community health centres and day therapy centres often have podiatrists.
Fall-proofing your surroundings
You can reduce the likelihood of a fall and make it easier to manage daily activities by making your home and surroundings as safe as possible.
Read more: About Safety in the home
The Don't fall for it. Falls can be prevented! booklet
This booklet is aimed at community dwelling older people and their families and carers. The booklet contains information about three aspects of falls prevention: fall-proofing yourself, all-proofing your surroundings and what to do in the event of a fall.
Medical and personal alarms
Make a plan of what to do in the event of a fall or another emergency with the person you are caring for. Work out:
- who to call for help
- how to call them, and
- how that help will get to you.
Read more: About medical and personal alarms
Common questions on this topic:
- Mum lives alone. She manages well, but I'm worried that she might fall and need help. What can I do?
- Where can I get more information about Falls Prevention?
- Mum has had a walking frame for a few years now. It needs to have the brakes adjusted. How can I find out where to get the walking frame 'serviced'?
See all common questions
