Falls in older people: epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention
2006/08/22 by Laurence Z. Rubenstein · 3,289 citations
Health Professions · Medicine · Nursing · #Alternative medicine #Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention #Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders #Environmental health #Evidence-based practice #Fall prevention #Falling (accident) #Falls in older adults #Injury Epidemiology and Prevention #Injury prevention #MEDLINE #Medical emergency #Medicine #Nursing #Occupational safety and health #Poison control #Psychological intervention #Risk assessment #Suicide prevention
paper · doi:10.1093/ageing/afl084
published in Age and Ageing 35(suppl_2), ii37-ii41 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2006/08/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Abstract
Falls are a common and often devastating problem among older people, causing a tremendous amount of morbidity, mortality and use of health care services including premature nursing home admissions. Most of these falls are associated with one or more identifiable risk factors (e.g. weakness, unsteady gait, confusion and certain medications), and research has shown that attention to these risk factors can significantly reduce rates of falling. Considerable evidence now documents that the most effective (and cost-effective) fall reduction programmes have involved systematic fall risk assessment and targeted interventions, exercise programmes and environmental-inspection and hazard-reduction programmes. These findings have been substantiated by careful meta-analysis of large numbers of controlled clinical trials and by consensus panels of experts who have developed evidence-based practice guidelines for fall prevention and management. Medical assessment of fall risks and provision of appropriate interventions are challenging because of the complex nature of falls. Optimal approaches involve interdisciplinary collaboration in assessment and interventions, particularly exercise, attention to co-existing medical conditions and environmental inspection and hazard abatement.
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