Reducing Your Fall Risk

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Falls are sneaky things. You think you're doing fine and then you're on the ground and you're not sure why. Falls often cause injuries that require hospital-based care and sometimes a stay in a care facility. The results of a fall typically decrease your quality of life and increase the burden of care on your loved ones. It can also increase your risk of rehospitalization and more. Let's look at some numbers:

In Canada, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and injury deaths among people aged 65 or older. 

• 5.8% of individuals living in a household residence aged 65 or older reported that they had been injured in a fall in the past 12 months.
• A majority (61%) of falls occurred while walking.
• Thirty-nine percent of injuries were fractures.
• Seventy percent of older adults who suffered a fall-related injury sought medical attention, among whom 72% received ED treatment.
• Approximately 52% of falls resulting in hospitalization occurred in a household residence and 17% in a residential care facility.

The cost of treating fall-related injuries is high. 

• The average length of stay for fall-related hospitalizations was 4 to 5 days longer than the average for all-cause hospitalizations.
• Patients hospitalized from a fall involving hip fracture stayed in hospital about 3 days longer than those without hip fracture. 
• In 2019/2020, 34% of fall-related hospitalizations involved a hip fracture. 
• In 2018, the annual direct cost of injurious falls among older Canadian adults was estimated at Can$5.6 billion.

Source: Surveillance Report on Falls Among Older Adults in Canada

*The documents talked about in this section are at the bottom of this webpage.

Start by understanding your current risk. Complete the following:

• Fall Risk Self-Assessment.
• Check for Safety Home Self-Assessment.

If you are a caregiver for someone you think is at risk for falling, you can also complete the aforementioned assessments and then also take a look at this document:

• Action Steps for Caregivers to Reduce Fall Risks.

Consider implementing the recommendations talked about in the assessments that you have now completed. You can also take a look at the Tools & Tips document to get ideas about how to improve your safety through aids and modifications. Compare the ideas in here with the risk areas you've identified.

Talk with your OT or other healthcare provider! Bring in the results of your self-assessments and your questions. 

Parachute - national fall prevention information and resources:

• https://parachute.ca/en/professional-resource/adult-falls-collection/ 

US Centers for Disease control and Prevention information, instruction, resources, including resources for caregivers and clinicians:

• Client and caregivers: https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient-resources/index.html 
• STEADI Program, all resources: https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/index.html 

British Columbia fall risk reduction information and resources:

• https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/health-safety/disease-and-injury-care-and-prevention/fall-prevention 
• https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/health-safety/disease-and-injury-care-and-prevention/fall-prevention/resources-to-learn-more 

British Columbia fall risk reduction online exercise videos and resources:

• https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/health-safety/disease-and-injury-care-and-prevention/fall-prevention/what-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-fall/muscle-weakness-and-physical-activity 

Steady As You Go fall risk reduction exercise program, 2 free online video options:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqZFzApb6Qo 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf7_hyHEwBk 

For information specific to a health condition that challenges your balance, go to the Chronic Conditions Mgt page under the More Resources header, or click here.