Condition : Falls and frailty

Condition Falls and frailty

What is frailty? How is it linked to falls?

In old age, an event that for other people would only cause minor and short-term injury can lead to a sudden and long-term downturn in health. This is known as frailty.

‘Having a fall’ is when you unintentionally come to be resting on the ground or lower level, and it wasn’t because of a major medical episode (such as a stroke) or a hazard. An example of a fall due to a hazard would be tripping on wires trailing on the floor.

If you are considered frail, you’re more likely to have a fall because of balance problems, stiff or weak muscles, fragile bones, or poor eyesight. These issues can then make it more difficult to get back up and increase the chances of serious injury due to the fall.

What to do if you fall

If you fall, try to stay calm. Take a couple of minutes to check for any pain or injuries and see if you think you can get up.

If you feel able to get up:

Take your time – do not get up too quickly.
Roll onto your side, then use your arms to push yourself onto your hands and knees.
Look for something stable to hold, such as a heavy piece of furniture or a bath or sink. Crawl to it if it's out of reach.
Put one foot flat on the floor. Stand up slowly, holding onto something stable to help you.
Sit down and rest while you recover.

If you do not feel able to get up:

If you have a phone or personal alarm that you can reach, use it to get help.
If you cannot reach an alarm or phone, try to get someone's attention by shouting for help or banging on a wall or the floor.
Try to keep warm while you wait for help. Cover yourself with anything you can reach, such as a towel, coat, rug, or blanket.
Keep moving your body. Roll from side to side or gently move your arms and legs.
Try to change position about every 30 minutes, to help prevent pressure sores.

Next steps

Step 1. Check out our external support

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Step 2. Contact a Healthcare Professional

If you need further support or have concerns, a Healthcare Professional is here to help. Reach out for professional medical advice tailored to you.

Step 3. View our services

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Preventing falls and putting safety measures in place

If you think you might be more likely to suffer a fall, you should talk to a GP about getting a frailty assessment and referral to services which can help you manage your risk, such as occupational therapy.

Occupational therapists can help by advising you on exercise and activities to regain or maintain your abilities. They may also recommend changes that can be made to your home to reduce the risk of falls, such as grab rails and ramps.

In addition to measures for preventing falls, it’s worth considering devices that would help if you cannot get back up after falling. You could wear a personal alarm so that you can send an alert if you fall and can’t reach a phone, and install a key safe so that family, carers, and emergency services can access your home if you can’t get to the door.