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The World Health Organization defines a fall as an event which results in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or floor or other lower level. In older adults, a fall is rarely caused by one thing. It is usually several small risks stacking up at the same moment: a loose mat, a dark corridor, slippers with no grip, weaker legs, and a medicine that causes light-headedness. That is also the good news, because most of those risks can be changed. This page sets out the practical steps that health services recommend, and the checks that belong with a doctor rather than at home. It does not assess any individual’s risk.
Why Falls Deserve Attention
WHO reports that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide, that an estimated 684 000 individuals die from falls globally each year, and that 37.3 million falls severe enough to require medical attention occur each year. WHO also states that adults older than 60 years of age suffer the greatest number of fatal falls.
Those figures are global and describe populations, not individuals. The practical point for a family is simpler: a fall in later life can change what a person is able to do afterwards, and a large part of the risk is in the environment and the daily routine, where it can be worked on.
What Raises the Risk of Falling
WHO lists these among the risk factors for falls:
- underlying medical conditions, such as neurological, cardiac or other disabling conditions
- side effects of medication, physical inactivity and loss of balance, particularly among older people
- poor mobility, cognition and vision, particularly among those living in an institution
- unsafe environments, particularly for those with poor balance and limited vision
- occupations at elevated heights or other hazardous working conditions
- alcohol or substance use
- socioeconomic factors including poverty, overcrowded housing, sole parenthood and young maternal age
Most older adults who fall have more than one of these at the same time. That is why fall prevention is rarely a single fix, and why WHO lists multifactorial interventions, gait, balance and functional training, Tai Chi, and home assessment and modification among the prevention strategies for older adults.
Clear the Floor
The NHS advises not having too much clutter at home, or things you could trip on such as loose wires or rugs. MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, gives the same advice in more detail: remove loose wires or cords from areas you walk through, remove loose throw rugs, and fix any uneven flooring in doorways.
Two more suggestions from MedlinePlus are easy to overlook. Have a bed that is low enough that the feet touch the floor when sitting on the edge. And set up the home so that the person does not have to climb steps for everyday things — move what is used daily to the floor they sleep on, and to shelves between waist and shoulder height so nothing needs a stool.
Light the Path
MedlinePlus advises having good lighting, especially for the path from the bedroom to the bathroom, in the bathroom, and on any stairs. Most night-time falls happen on exactly that route.
Practical ways to do it: a lamp or switch within reach of the bed so nobody crosses a dark room to find one, a low night light along the corridor and inside the bathroom, and a torch kept beside the bed for power cuts. Check that light switches are reachable at both ends of a corridor and at the top and bottom of stairs.
Shoes and Slippers
The NHS advises wearing shoes or slippers that fit well, do not slip off, and have a good grip. MedlinePlus adds that shoes should have low heels and fit well, and that rubber soles help prevent slipping.
Indoors matters as much as outdoors. Loose bathroom chappals, backless slippers and walking on smooth floors in socks are common trip and slip risks. If a walking stick or frame has been advised, it should be the right height and its rubber tip should be checked from time to time, since a worn tip loses grip.
The Bathroom
The NHS suggests considering safety rails on steps and grab rails in the bathroom. MedlinePlus advises hand rails in the bathtub or shower and next to the toilet, and a slip-proof mat in the bathtub or shower.
A few more things help in an Indian bathroom in particular: keep the floor as dry as possible and squeegee it after use, keep buckets and mugs out of the walking line rather than on the floor mid-room, avoid soap film building up on tiles, and consider a sturdy plastic stool or shower chair so that bathing can be done seated. Make sure the door can be opened from outside in an emergency.
Strength, Balance and Standing Up Slowly
The NHS advises staying active and doing activities that improve strength and balance at least twice a week. WHO includes gait, balance and functional training and Tai Chi among prevention strategies for older adults.
MedlinePlus adds one habit that costs nothing: when standing up from sitting, go slowly and hold on to something stable. The same applies to getting out of bed — sit on the edge for a few moments before standing.
Exercise should match what the person can actually do today, especially after an illness, a hospital stay or a previous fall. A physiotherapist can assess and set that safely, and families often arrange physiotherapy at home when travelling to a clinic is itself a risk.
Medicines, Eyes and Ears
The NHS advises speaking to a GP or pharmacist if you think your medicines could be affecting your balance, and MedlinePlus advises asking your provider about medicines that can make you dizzy. Bring the whole list, including anything bought without a prescription.
Never stop, reduce or change a medicine on your own because you suspect it is causing dizziness. Only the treating doctor can make that decision safely.
The NHS also advises having regular eye tests, and getting the ears and hearing checked, because ear problems can affect balance. MedlinePlus advises contacting a provider if eyesight has worsened. The NHS adds that eating well and staying hydrated matters, because not eating and drinking enough can cause light-headedness or faintness.
Feeling light-headed on standing is something a doctor will want to look into, and blood pressure is usually part of that assessment. Our guide to blood pressure by age explains how readings are recorded and why the figures on your own report matter more than any general number.
If a Fall Happens
Call 108 or go to the nearest hospital if the person hit their head, cannot get up or bear weight, has severe pain or an obvious deformity, is bleeding heavily, becomes drowsy, confused or unusually sleepy, or takes any medicine that affects blood clotting. When in doubt, get them seen.
Do not rush to lift someone off the floor. Ask where it hurts, look for injury, and get help before moving them. If they are able to get up, let them do it in stages, resting on a chair or the bed rather than being pulled up by the arms.
Someone who has been lying on a hard floor for a long time, or who becomes much less mobile after a fall, is also at risk of skin damage from pressure. Our guide to pressure sore prevention explains what to look for and how often to reposition. Families who need help with daily routines at home often arrange elder care at home during this period.
A doctor may arrange tests after a fall, or to look into dizziness. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, method, age, sex, pregnancy and clinical context, so read the range printed on your own report next to your own result. The treating doctor interprets results and symptoms; this page cannot.
Frequently asked questions
What raises the risk of falls in older adults?
WHO lists underlying medical conditions such as neurological or cardiac conditions; side effects of medication, physical inactivity and loss of balance, particularly among older people; poor mobility, cognition and vision; unsafe environments; hazardous working conditions; alcohol or substance use; and socioeconomic factors including poverty and overcrowded housing. Most older adults who fall have several of these at once, which is why prevention usually needs more than one change.
How can I make a home safer against falls?
Remove clutter, loose throw rugs, and wires or cords from walking paths, and fix uneven flooring in doorways. Add good lighting on the route from bedroom to bathroom and on stairs. Fit grab rails in the bathroom and next to the toilet, and place a slip-proof mat in the bathing area. Keep the bathroom floor dry.
What kind of footwear reduces the risk of falling?
The NHS advises shoes or slippers that fit well, do not slip off, and have a good grip. MedlinePlus adds that low heels and rubber soles help prevent slipping. Backless or loose slippers and walking in socks on smooth floors are common indoor risks. Check that any walking stick or frame has an unworn rubber tip.
Does exercise really help prevent falls?
It is one of the recommended measures. The NHS advises staying active and doing activities that improve strength and balance at least twice a week, and WHO includes gait, balance and functional training and Tai Chi among fall prevention strategies for older adults. Exercise should match current ability, so ask a doctor or physiotherapist before starting after illness or a fall.
Should we stop a medicine that seems to cause dizziness?
No. Never stop, reduce or change a medicine on your own. The NHS advises speaking to a GP or pharmacist if you think medicines could be affecting balance, and MedlinePlus advises asking your provider about medicines that can make you dizzy. Take the full list, including anything bought without a prescription, to that conversation.
Do eyesight and hearing affect the risk of falling?
Yes. The NHS advises having regular eye tests and getting the ears and hearing checked, because ear problems can affect balance. MedlinePlus advises contacting a provider if eyesight has worsened, since improving vision helps reduce falls. Both checks are simple, and both are easy to postpone for years without noticing the gradual change.
What should we do immediately after a fall?
Do not rush to lift the person. Ask where it hurts and look for injury first. Call 108 or go to the nearest hospital if they hit their head, cannot stand or bear weight, have severe pain or deformity, are bleeding heavily, become drowsy or confused, or take medicines affecting blood clotting. When unsure, have them examined.
Sources
World Health Organization - Falls fact sheet · NHS - Falls: prevention · MedlinePlus (NIH) - Preventing falls
Last checked 2 September 2026. How we write and check these pages: editorial policy.
Help with mobility and safety at home
Varolyn arranges trained attendants, nurses and home physiotherapy in Bangalore for older adults who need support with walking, transfers and daily routines. Assessment, medicines and treatment decisions stay with the treating doctor.