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What older people can do to prevent falls

Photo of an older woman taking a tablet

Falls can happen at any age. But because they can have serious consequences in older people, it's worth taking measures to prevent them. Some of these measures are quite easy to do.

One simple and effective measure is to eliminate tripping hazards around your own home. Occupational therapists can help you to do this. In Germany, this help is offered as part of a special program for the prevention of falls ("Sturzpräventionsprogramm"). People living in Germany can ask their family doctor, a neurologist or occupational therapist for more information.

Various medical aids can be used too – for example, a grabber tool to pick objects up off the floor, a walking aid, a shower seat or a bath lift.

Can exercise programs help?

Research has shown that certain kinds of exercise programs can help to prevent falls in older people. These programs mainly include exercises to improve muscle strength and balance. They can be done in a group or one-to-one. The researchers looked at various forms of exercise, including

  • walking and balance training,
  • strength training,
  • dancing or tai chi, and
  • aerobic exercise.

But it's important to choose exercises that are suited to your own physical abilities.

Programs offered by a team of specialists from various fields (e.g. physical therapy and geriatric care) also help to prevent falls. Such mixed teams can recognize individual risks more easily and better adapt the measures to your personal needs.

Which medications can increase the risk of falls?

Some medications can increase the risk of falls, either when taken alone or together with other drugs. They include

  • sedatives or sleeping pills,
  • diuretics and blood-pressure-lowering drugs,
  • anti-epileptic drugs (anti-seizure drugs),
  • opioids and
  • some diabetes medications.

But you shouldn't stop taking any of these medications without consulting your doctor first. It is best to have regular doctors' appointments to talk about which medications you still need to take. It can help to put together a medication schedule to take along to your doctors' appointments. This is a list of all the medications you are on.

Can vitamin D prevent falls?

Current research suggests that older people in nursing homes and hospitals are less likely to have a fall if they take vitamin D. But only if they have low levels of vitamin D to start off with. Their vitamin D levels can be measured using a blood test.

Vitamin D is believed to strengthen muscles. It also helps the body to absorb more and phosphate from the bowel when necessary. Having enough calcium in the body is important for normal bone metabolism and, as a result, bone stability. Vitamin D might be more effective when taken together with .

Vitamin D and supplements can have side effects. These mainly include the development of kidney stones. European and U.S. authorities recommend taking not more than between 1,000 and 1,300 mg of in the form of dietary supplements a day.

What else might help?

It is also a good idea for different health professionals (such as doctors, nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists) to jointly assess the individual risk of falling and then recommend preventive measures based on their findings. Research has found the following to be helpful:

  • Treating vision problems and, for example, using a normal pair of glasses instead of bifocals.
  • Cataract surgery (if you have cataracts).
  • Occupational therapy.
  • Treating foot problems.
  • Using footwear with slip-resistant soles or shoe inserts.

Behavioral therapy can reduce the fear of falling.

Even though you can do a lot to prevent falls, not every fall can be avoided. So it's particularly important for older people (and people who have diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis) to know how they can stay mobile and strengthen their muscles, bones and joints.

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Updated on May 3, 2022

Next planned update: 2025

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

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