Accidents and in particular falls are a major cause of death and disability in older people. Did you know that in the UK there are over a millions falls each year and that around 5% of falls result in a fracture? Many falls result in a wrist or hip fracture, caused by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a progressive systemic skeletal disease characterised by low bone mass and architectural deterioration of bone tissue resulting in increased bone fragility and risk of fracture. One in two women over the age of 50 and one in five men will suffer a fracture.

While the cause of falls in under 65’s tend to be caused by environmental hazards, in older people they are usually multi-factorial in origin. They are often caused by a combination of problems, such as diminished balance, strength and co-ordination, side effects from medication, cognitive and sensory decline and deteriorating general health. Falls can have a devastating impact on the quality of life of an older person. Apart from the physical traumas they can lead to loss of independence, social isolation and depression. While up to 50% of people will not be able to walk again unaided, 20% die in the first year following a hip fracture. Did you know that one week of bed rest reduces strength by 20% and bone mineral density by 1%? The financial costs of falls and fractures are also enormous with one in five fallers requiring medical attention. Health and social care costs of fractures (mostly hip fractures) is estimated to be £1.74 billion per year.

As falls and fractures are obviously a huge problem, the government decided to include a section on falls in the National Service Framework for older people (2001) (standard six) which states that the NHS, in partnership with councils must:

‘reduce the number of falls which result in serious injury and ensure effective treatment and rehabilitation for those who have fallen’

The good news is that multiple risk factor assessment and intervention can reduce the risk of falls. For instance, many older people at varying mobility levels are now undertaking specific falls prevention exercise programmes which have proved to be effective.

We hope that the following national and local information sheets, booklets and links to other websites will be useful in our efforts to raise awareness of this problem and reduce the numbers of falls and fractures. These may be accessed from the menu subsections under General and Local information.