Falls are the leading cause of serious injury and accidental death among older people. In Italy, it is estimated that over 3 million people over 65 fall each year. Yet most falls can be prevented through targeted interventions involving the environment, the person and their medication management.
The main risk factors
Risk factors are divided into intrinsic factors (visual impairment, orthostatic hypotension, sarcopenia, polypharmacy and cognitive impairment) and extrinsic factors (slippery floors, poor lighting, floor obstacles and unsuitable footwear). A multidimensional assessment identifies which factors can be modified and how to intervene.
Adapting the home environment
Installing grab rails in the bathroom and along stairs, removing rugs and cables, ensuring adequate lighting even at night, and replacing the bath with a shower enclosure with a seat: these often simple and inexpensive interventions significantly reduce fall risk.
Physical exercise and risk assessment
The physiotherapist can assess fall risk using validated tests (Timed Up and Go, Berg Balance Scale) and prescribe an exercise programme to improve balance, muscle strength and proprioception. Regular physical exercise remains the single most effective intervention.
📚 Scientific evidence
- Sherrington C. et al. (2019). Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
- AGS/BGS (2011). Clinical Practice Guideline: Prevention of Falls in Older Persons. J Am Geriatr Soc, 59(1):148-57.
- ISTAT (2023). Incidenti domestici: fenomeno, fattori di rischio e prevenzione. Roma.
