Preventing falls

As well as being painful, falls can reduce your confidence and ability to live independently.

Falls are not an inevitable part of growing older, follow these simple steps to reduce your risk of falling: 

1. Strength and balance - stay active to improve your strength and balance.

2. Falls history - tell someone if you fall as the next time could be serious, your GP or pharmacist can help.

3. Environment - be aware of trip hazards and make simple changes to your home and garden which mean that you are less likely to fall.

Further information 

Public Health Wales - Get up and go brochure (pdf)

Best practice exercise guide for older people at risk of falling (pdf)

Swansea Council for Voluntary Services - Falls prevention

NHS Choices - Exercises for older people

Age Cymru - Stop falling: start saving lives and money 

NHS UK - Physical activity guidelines for over 65’s (pdf) 

Ageing Well In Wales 

NHS Wales - Steady on stay safe

Newport Community Connectors - find a local exercise class

Information for care professionals

1,000 Lives – Reducing harm from falls

NICE guidelines - Assessment and prevention of falls in older people 

Public Health Wales - Transforming health improvement programme 

Age UK - Don’t mention the F word (advice to practitioners on communicating falls prevention messages to older people)