HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury

Falls

Ngā takahanga

Falls are a common cause of injury, hospital admission and even death in people of all ages, but especially in older people. Falls can cause major disability, loss of independence and can make people feel isolated.

Risk factors for falls

Your risk of falling increases as you get older, but you may also be at risk if you:

• have issues with balance and strength, such as feeling unsteady on your feet
• are a woman (women are one and a half times more likely to fall than men)
• live alone
• do not eat well
• have mobility issues
• lack confidence with your mobility or fear that you might fall
• have had a fall in the past 12 months
• have eyesight problems
• regularly take more than four medicines
• have problems such as osteoporosis, Parkinson disease, stroke, diabetes, memory loss or dementia.

If you have had a fall

Falling can be frightening. If it happens when you're alone, you could find it difficult to get back up again.

The video below shows you how to get up off the floor.

Talk to your general practice team if you're worried about falling or if you've had a fall so they can check why you might have fallen.

You may want to consider getting a personal medical alarm so if you fall again, you can easily call for help.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Alberta Health Services – How to get up from the floor by yourself

  Detailed instructions for how to get up if you fall, including tips you can practise at home.

  HealthInfo recommends the following apps

• Nymbl

  An app for people wanting to improve their balance and mobility and reduce their risk of falling.

On the next page: Reducing your risk of falling

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2022.

Sources

Page reference: 48264

Review key: HIFAL-31777