Overview
A fall is when a person unintentionally comes to rest on the ground or a lower level. Falls are common in older adults, but they are not an inevitable part of ageing. Preventing falls often involves looking at health, medicines, mobility, footwear, and the home environment together.
Causes and Risk Factors
Falls usually happen for more than one reason. Common risk factors include poor balance, muscle weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure on standing, problems with feet, vision or hearing changes, and long-term conditions that affect movement or thinking. Some medicines can increase drowsiness, confusion, or unsteadiness, and alcohol can also raise risk.
Who Is Affected
Anyone can fall, but risk is higher in older adults and in people with reduced strength, limited mobility, or chronic illness. People who have fallen before are more likely to fall again. Those who use walking aids, live with memory problems, or have poor vision may need extra support to reduce risk.
Prevention
Helpful steps include strength and balance exercises, reviewing medicines with a healthcare professional, and checking vision and hearing regularly. At home, improve lighting, remove clutter, secure loose rugs, install handrails where needed, and use non-slip mats. Wear well-fitting shoes with good grip, and take time when standing up or changing position.
Diagnosis and Tests
There is no single test for fall risk. A healthcare professional may ask about previous falls, walking ability, dizziness, fainting, continence, vision, footwear, and medicines. They may assess balance, blood pressure, strength, feet, and whether the home or daily routines may be contributing.
Treatment Categories
Care focuses on reducing the causes of falls and lowering injury risk. This may include physiotherapy or exercise programs for strength and balance, treatment of vision or foot problems, medicine review, mobility aids, and changes to the home. After a fall, treatment may also involve checking for injuries and understanding why the fall happened.
Living With It
A fall can lead to pain, loss of confidence, and fear of falling again. Staying active within your ability, practicing prescribed exercises, and asking for practical support can help maintain independence. Family members and caregivers can help by noticing changes in walking, confusion, dizziness, or repeated near-falls.
Diet and Lifestyle
Good overall nutrition supports muscle strength and general health. Staying hydrated may help reduce dizziness in some people, and limiting alcohol can lower fall risk. Physical activity that builds balance, flexibility, and leg strength is often an important part of prevention.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care after a fall if there is pain, bruising, swelling, trouble walking, dizziness, fainting, or a suspected injury. Also seek care for repeated falls, new unsteadiness, blackouts, confusion, or if daily activities are becoming harder. A healthcare professional can help look for treatable causes and ways to reduce future risk.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get urgent help after a fall if the person has severe bleeding, head injury, chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, seizure, loss of consciousness, or cannot move part of the body. Urgent care is also needed if there is severe hip pain, a possible broken bone, or the person cannot get up safely.