Preventing Falls In Older Adults At The Heart Of National Documents
Two policy briefing documents on reducing falls among older adults have been sent to decision makers ahead of Falls Prevention Awareness Week next month.
The briefings give concise overviews of the Falls Management Exercise Programme (FaME) and Action Falls, offering practical guidance for policymakers planning care for older people.
Led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex and supported by the NIHR ARC East Midlands, both the documents offer advice on how to prevent older adults from falling – a personal and financial burden costing the NHS £2 billion annually.
Health data shows that around one in three people aged 65 and over experience at least one fall each year – a figure that rises to one in two among those aged 80 and over. Falls are also the leading cause of emergency department visits for older adults, accounting for more than four million hospital bed days annually in England.
FaME is a structured exercise programme that reduces falls by up to 54 per cent in older adults by improving their strength and balance. Research shows that FaME not only reduces falls but also boosts confidence and lessens the concern about falling.
Professor Elizabeth Orton, from the University of Nottingham and the School of Medicine, said:
“FaME has the power to transform lives by helping older people stay active, independent and confident.
“Our evidence shows that with the right strength and balance exercises, we can significantly reduce the chance of a fall happening – preventing injuries, reducing hospital admissions and easing the strain on health and social care services.”
She added: “This policy briefing is a vital step in helping decision makers aware of the benefits of FaME and in ensuring therefore that FaME reaches every community that can benefit from it.”
Action Falls is an evidence-based programme that has been shown to reduce falls by 43 per cent in care home residents, providing a structured approach for care staff to identify and manage fall risks effectively.
Falls are a major health risk for care home residents, occurring three times more frequently than in the general population, leading to severe injuries and hospital admissions.
Action Falls is already recommended as best practice by NHS England and based on the improvement in outcomes for older people, experts recommend that the programme should be used in all care homes in England to prevent the substantial harm associated with falls among residents.
Dr Frances Allen, from the University of Nottingham and the School of Medicine, said: “Falls are not an inevitable part of ageing.
“With the right approaches, we can prevent them and protect the health, independence and quality of life of older people.”
She continued: “Action Falls gives care staff the tools and confidence to identify risks early and take practical steps that save lives and reduce pressure on the NHS.”
Professor Kamlesh Khunti, Director of NIHR ARC East Midlands and the Real-World Evidence Unit and Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, noted:
“Preventing falls must be a national priority if we are to protect the health, dignity and independence of our ageing population.
“These policy briefings provide clear, evidence-based solutions that can be implemented now to save lives, improve outcomes and deliver substantial savings for the NHS and social care.”
He concluded: “The challenge is urgent, but with programmes like FaME and Action Falls, the solutions are already in our hands.”
Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2025 will be observed from Monday, September 22 to Friday, September 26.
