Falls prevention research and reports
Help the Aged research and reports
Falling Short
The Falling Short report, investigating the state of public pavements throughout the UK, was published as part of the 2008 National Falls Awareness Day Campaign.
Fall Stop!
The findings from a new literature review commissioned by Help the Aged and written by Sam Nyman (University of Southampton) and Claire Ballinger (London South Bank University) explores how the recent recommendations made by ProFaNE may be implemented in everyday practice with older people.
A summary and the full report can be downloaded here.
Policy statements
Two new policy statements from Help the Aged were published in August 2007 on Preventing Falls (PDF,156k) and Osteoporosis (PDF,122k). They highlight the importance of addressing these issues for healthy ageing.
National Falls Awareness Day evaluation reports
Following four successful campaigns these reports document the rise of National Falls Awareness Day.
Visit the National Falls Awareness Day page for more information.
Minority Ethnic Elders Falls Prevention Year One and Year Two progress reports
These reports provide a summary of year one and year two MEEFP projects, detailing achievements and lessons learnt. They act as a useful resource for anyone working with older people from minority ethnic communities.
Visit the Minority Ethnic Elders Falls Prevention page for more information.
Managing the risk and effect of falls in care homes
This report identifies the prevalence of falls amongst residents in care homes and lists examples of how care homes can reduce the risk and effect of falls. It also contains practical action sheets which can be completed.
Managing the risk and effect of falls in care homes (PDF,866k)
This report was written in May 2004 and updated in November 2006.
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Encouraging positive attitudes to falls prevention in later life
Research from Help the Aged and the University of Southampton examines the attitudes and feelings of older people towards falls prevention services and resources. It explores different ways of communicating falls prevention messages to older people, and encouraging them to take up falls prevention advice.
'Don't mention the F word!' (Feb 2005), a summary of the research findings (PDF,64k)
For a copy of the full report, please send a cheque made payable to ‘Help the Aged’ for £10 plus £1.75 P&P to: Production Administrator, Publishing, Help the Aged, 207-221 Pentonville Road, London N1 9UZ or email us
Reducing falls among older people: examples of falls services across England
This gives examples of risk assessment pathways, partnership working and specific interventions such as exercise, medication review tools and assistive devices.
Reducing falls among older people: examples of falls services across England (June 2003) (PDF,113k)
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Research and statistics
This research was produced as part of the DTI's 'Avoiding slips, trips and broken hips' campaign which has now finished. The information is still relevant and can be downloaded here.
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Presentations
The fall of Fidel Castro and the prevention of such events
Lecture given by Prof. John Campbell (Dunedin, New Zealand) at the Royal Society of Medicine on 21 November 2005.
The fall of Fidel Castro and the prevention of such events (PDF,306k)
Presentations made at the Help the Aged Falls Co-ordinator Event in June 2003
These provide useful background for developing falls services.
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Links to external documents
A wide range of falls and fracture prevention literature is available from the EU falls network PRoFaNE A selection of key documents are listed below.
Newly added:
Slips, trips and falls in hospital (Feb 2007)
The National Patient Safety Agency report, launched in February, analysed over 200,000 patient safety incidents on the National Reporting and Learning System. It highlights that in an average 800-bed acute hospital trust there will be around 24 falls every week.
Policy Manuals on Priorities in Europe in Elderly Safety
The European Network for Safety among the Elderly -EUNESE has released two good practice policy manuals in which falls are highlighted.
Healthy Ageing – A Challenge for Europe
The Healthy Ageing EU Project has released this document , where falls are among the key areas needing attention.
Interventions for preventing falls in the elderly (Cochrane Review)
Gillespie et al, The Cochrane Library 2003
Population based interventions for the prevention of fall-related injuries in older people (Cochrane Review)
McClure et al, The Cochrane Library 2003
Strategies to prevent falls and fractures in hospitals and care homes and effect of cognitive impairment: systematic review and meta-analyses
Oliver et al, BMJ 2006
Other useful links
NHS Later Life Specialist Library
The NHS Later Life Specialist Library has a whole section on Preventing Falls including guidance and pathways, evidence and patient information.
Increasing response rates among BME and other hard to reach groups
This report from Picker Institute Europe summarises the findings of a review of the literature on increasing survey response rates amongst black and minority ethnic (BME) and other hard to reach groups.
A New Ambition for Old Age
Professor Ian Philp presented the 'Next Steps' plan in 2006 for the next five years of the Older People's NSF.
Living Well in Later Life
In March 2006, the Healthcare Commission, Audit Commission and CSCI assessed the progress against the milestones for the 2001 NSF for Older People.
Organisational Audit of Falls and Bone Health in Older People
A national audit conducted by the Royal College of Physicians in 2006 has found a worrying lack of falls and bone health services in 25 per cent of Trusts in England - despite this having been an NSF target for April 2005.
Integrated services for older people from the Audit Commission website
Audit Commission, 2002
The economic cost of hip fracture in the UK
Health Promotion England, 2000
Making the case for investing in falls and fractures prevention
A workbook of ideas from the Department of Health
National Osteoporosis Society Primary Care Strategy for Osteoporosis and Falls
Updated Osteoporosis Facts and Figures
The National Osteoporosis Society has published a report called Facts & Figures on Osteoporosis, with a section related to falls as well as other conditions.
Reduction in Fear of Falling Through Intense Tai Chi Exercise Training in Older, Transitionally Frail Adults (abstract)
Sattin R, Easley K, Wolf S et al, 2005
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Volume 53 Issue 7 p1168
Intense Tai Chi Exercise Training and Fall Occurrences in Older, Transitionally Frail Adults: A Randomized, Controlled Trial (abstract)
Wolf S, Sattin R et al, 2003
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Volume 51 Issue 12 p1693.
Quality of life related to fear of falling and hip fracture in older women: a time trade off study (abstract)
Salkeld G, Cameron ID, Cumming RG et al, 2000
BMJ, 320: 341-346
Accidental Falls: Fatalities and Injuries
An examination of the data sources and review of the literature on preventative strategies.
Dowsell T, Towner E, Cryer C, Jarvis S, Edwards P, Lowe P., 1999 University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Prevention of falls in the elderly trial (PROFET): a randomised controlled trial (abstract)
Close Dr J, Ellis M, Hooper R et al, 1999
The Lancet, 353: 93-97
Falls and Injuries in later life: the FICSIT trials (abstract)
Ory MG, Schechtman KB et al, 1993
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society March 41(3):283-96
Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community (abstract)
Tinetti ME, Speechley M, Ginter SF, 1988
N Engl J Med; 319:1701-1707
Preventing Falls is part of Advice and Information - empowering older people, their families and carers.
