An important aspect of maintaining function and protecting against falls is physical activity and lifestyle management. When strength, muscle power, flexibility, coordination and balance decline, the older person is less able to prevent a slip, trip or stumble becoming a fall. After a fall, many older people find getting off the floor impossible leading to a ‘long lie’. It is possible to reverse this functional decline relatively quickly. Regular and appropriate physical activity and a healthy lifestyle directly improve functional fitness and performing activities of daily living.

We hope these pages will help you look at your lifestyle and help you develop a better understanding of how important changing your lifestyle can be to helping prevent falls.