Risk factors and injuries associated with falls can be classified as personal (also known as intrinsic) risk factors and environmental (also known as extrinsic) risk factors. Whist a fall can be caused by a single risk factor, falls more likely to be caused by multiple risk factors.

Risk factors may include:

A previous fall	Sore feet and unsafe shoes
Health problems	Loss of balance
Medications	Changes in walking
Poor diet	Not being active
Poor or loss of eyesight	Hazards around the home

 

For a fall to occur, a person must be performing an activity. For example, moving from the bed to the bathroom in the evening. The fall may occur because the older person has poor eyesight (intrinsic), they tripped on a carpet in the bedroom (extrinsic) and they were moving in a hurry to move from their bedroom to the toilet (activity).

How to tell if someone is at risk of falling:

Due to the number of risk factors that can contribute to an individual’s falls risk, falls risk screening tools are commonly used to guide the identification of an older person’s risk of having a fall. Click here for more information about screening tools.

 

Helpful links:

• ‘What works to reduce falls’ website content
• ‘What can health professionals do to prevent falls’ website content