Preventing Falls After 65
Most falls are predictable, and most are preventable
Healthlife Editorial Team
Medical writers
In simple terms
The main risk factors at home and in the body, plus a simple balance routine and a room-by-room safety check.
Why falls happen
A fall is rarely bad luck alone. Muscle loss, poorer vision, blood pressure that drops on standing, certain medicines and cluttered floors combine. Remove two or three of these and the risk drops sharply.
Medicines to review
- Sleeping tablets and sedatives
- Some blood pressure medicines, especially when doses change
- Several medicines taken together: ask for a yearly review
A simple balance routine
- Stand behind a chair and rise from sitting 10 times without using your hands
- Stand on one leg for 10 seconds each side, holding the chair lightly
- Walk heel to toe along a line for 10 steps
- Repeat 3 times a week; strength and balance improve at any age
Home safety check
- Remove loose rugs and trailing cables
- Light the route from bed to bathroom
- Grab rails by the toilet and in the shower, non-slip mat
- Well-fitting shoes indoors instead of slippers
When to seek medical help
After any fall with a head knock or if you take blood thinners, seek care the same day. Repeated near-falls or dizziness on standing deserve a check-up.
This article explains general health information in simple language. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.
The words explained
Medical terms used above, in everyday language.
- Blood pressure
- The force of blood pushing against your artery walls. Too high, over years, damages the heart and vessels.
When should you see a doctor?
- Your symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back.
- They get worse quickly, or stop you doing everyday things.
- You notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding — seek urgent care.
- You already take medication and want to change anything about it.
This article explains general health information. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Preventing Falls After 65?
- The main risk factors at home and in the body, plus a simple balance routine and a room-by-room safety check.
- What are the main symptoms or signs of Preventing Falls After 65?
- Common signs vary from person to person. The article above lists the symptoms to watch for, how they progress, and when they need medical attention.
- When should you see a doctor for Preventing Falls After 65?
- See a doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks, get worse quickly, stop you doing everyday things, or if you notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding.
Related health topics
Ear, Nose & Throat
Dizziness: sorting out the common causes
What you feel tells the doctor a lot about where the problem is.
Conditions
Orthostatic hypotension: dizzy when you stand up
Why standing makes you light-headed, which medicines cause it, and simple measures that work.
Ear, Nose & Throat
BPPV: brief violent vertigo when you turn in bed
Why the spinning lasts under a minute, and how a simple manoeuvre cures most cases in one visit.
Healthy Aging
Memory and Ageing: Normal Forgetting or a Warning Sign?
How to tell everyday age-related forgetfulness from changes that need assessment, and what protects the brain.
Healthy Aging
Taking Several Medicines Safely After 60
How to organise your treatments, which combinations need attention, and how to prepare a medication review.
Healthy Aging
Muscle Loss With Age: How to Slow It Down
Why muscle fades after 50, how much protein you actually need, and a beginner strength plan for home.