It’s well known that falls are a serious concern in the elderly. In fact, the UK government’s guidance on falls in the elderly says that one out of every three older people will experience at least one fall in any given year.

In response, many NHS trusts have set up falls prevention services that are specifically designed to reduce older people’s risk of falling.

But it seems there is more to be done. A recent survey of the 75 largest NHS trusts found that 57% of them had experienced a rise in hospital admissions related to falls in older people.

What’s going on with elderly falls in the UK, and what can you do if you are concerned about falls for yourself or a loved one? Read on to learn more.

Why do falls matter?

To someone who’s not a medical expert, a fall might sound like a minor incident. And for many younger people, it usually is.

But a rise in elderly falls really matters because seniors’ falls are far more serious – for several reasons.

Older people’s bodies are more likely to be injured

As we age, our reflexes and muscles grow weaker. And many seniors also have osteoporosis, or weakened bones. These factors mean that when an older person trips or stumbles, they’re less likely to be able to prevent a fall, and more likely to experience an injury.

An injury from a fall can set off a downward spiral in health

Not all falls in the elderly result in injury. But when a senior is hurt after a fall, they may end up needing hospitalisation. For example, fractured hips are a typical injury resulting from an older person’s fall.

When an elderly person is hospitalised and unable to move because of a fracture or other injury, they can lose muscle tone fast. If they can’t care for themself at home when they’re discharged from hospital, they might end up in a care home – and that care home stay can become permanent.

A “long lie” on the floor can also have serious health effects

What if an older person isn’t injured from falling, but they’re then unable to stand up from the floor after a fall?

If no-one is around to help, the elderly person could end up stuck on the floor for hours or even days. This is called experiencing a “long lie.”

As you can imagine, being unable to get up off the floor can have severe health consequences for a senior. If the weather is cold and they can’t reach a blanket, they can end up getting hypothermia. They can end up dangerously dehydrated and hungry. They can also get pressure sores, especially if they weren’t able to get up to go to the bathroom.

And, importantly, there are also drastic mental health effects. A “long lie” can make an older person afraid of walking in the future because they fear another fall. But when a senior doesn’t walk, they lose muscle tone and balance, becoming more likely to fall again.

An elderly person who falls once is more likely to fall again

Due to many factors of ageing, older people usually face a higher risk of falling. Poor eyesight, movement disabilities and even issues like rushing to get to the toilet can all add up to increased risks of falling at any time.

But after a senior falls once, they face an even higher chance of falling again. So, once a person has experienced a fall, it’s smart to try to prevent future falls with steps like physical therapy, adding accessibility features in the home and getting a personal alarm to call for help in case a fall does occur.

About the survey

Opera Beds conducted a survey of ambulance services and NHS trusts across the UK, using Freedom of Information requests to get detailed data about seniors and falls.

Among the trusts that responded with information about elderly falls, the one with the highest increase was Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals, which had an over 50% increase from 2022 to 2024 in admissions related to older people’s falls.

The survey turned up plenty of other crucial information, too. According to the respondents, over half of older people’s falls at home were falls due to tripping or slipping on a level floor – in other words, not going up or down stairs, or getting up from a chair.

Just over a fifth of falls involved steps or staircases, and close to 15% were related to beds (as in getting in or out of bed).

So, what does this mean for you if you’re an older person or care for an elderly relative?

Living in a home that’s all one floor doesn’t remove all risk

It’s not uncommon for older people to move into bungalows or flats so that they don’t have to face the risks of stairs. And it is true that going up and down steps can be a dangerous moment for a senior at high risk of falling.

But as the survey data shows, taking stairs out of the equation doesn’t solve the problem – not by a long shot. Factors including balance issues, stiffness due to arthritis, numbness from conditions like diabetes and weaker vision can make it easier for an older person to fall even while walking on an entirely flat surface.

It’s critical to address risks of falls for seniors

Knowing about the dangers of falls in older people is important. But it’s just the first step.

Elderly people and their loved ones need to take action to reduce the chances of falls and the potential hospitalisation that follows – because once a fall has occurred, it can be much harder to prevent future falls.

What can you do to tackle fall risks?

So, now you know that you need to take steps to lower the likelihood of a fall for you or an older loved one. But what should you do?

Fall-proofing at home

There’s a lot you can do when it comes to fall-proofing your home. Some options that can help are:

Secure and flatten any loose, wrinkled or slippery rugs
Ensure there are clear paths through the home without wires or clutter in the way
Move the location of objects so they are within comfortable reach – for example, use a shower basket that’s easy to reach rather than bending down to pick up shampoo from a lower ledge
Add accessibility features like grab bars in the bathroom
Ensure that all steps are even and secure (not wobbly), and add sturdy handrails on both sides to staircases
Improve lighting outdoors and indoors, especially around tricky spots like stairs
Use motion-detecting nightlights along the journey from the bedroom to the bathroom
Use anti-slip coatings in the bathtub or shower.

Get advice from a medical professional

If you’re worried about falls, it’s certainly worth talking to a GP. As we’ve mentioned, many NHS trusts have falls prevention programmes that are specifically designed to help lower risks of falling in older people. Your GP might also be able to help by prescribing measures like walking aids or physical therapy.

Get a personal alarm in case a fall does occur

It’s great to do all you can to try to prevent a fall. But there’s no way to completely eliminate that risk. So, it’s also crucial to have a plan to get help after a fall – both so that you or your loved one can receive medical treatment if needed, and as a measure to prevent the awful experience of a “long lie.” This step is important for all seniors, not just those who live alone, because it’s possible for an older person to fall while their carer is in the next room or during the night while family members are asleep just down the hallway.

A personal alarm is a simple, wearable device that has an SOS button to let the wearer call for help easily and quickly with just one touch. Most seniors also benefit from more advanced features like fall detection, which means that the device will call for help all on its own if its sensors indicate a fall has occurred. This function can provide backup protection to get an older person help if they’re unconscious after a fall.

GPS tracking is another key feature that can allow helpers to find an older person after a fall. This can be crucial for seniors who are still active and enjoy going for walks, and for older people with dementia who are at risk of wandering away from their carers.

Make a plan to address fall risks with SureSafe

At SureSafe, we have over a decade of experience in providing technologies to help protect seniors who are facing the risk of falls. So, we know how a simple device in the form of a pendant or wrist alarm can make all the difference in giving older people and their families confidence and peace of mind – and getting seniors help when they need it most. Just take a look at our reviews and ratings to see why we’re a leading provider of personal alarms for elderly people in the UK.

If you’d like to know more about what our personal alarms can do, we’re here to chat. You can get in touch with us by phone on 0808 189 1670, via our live chat or by requesting a call back.