UNITED STATES, Sept. 25 (Senior Newspaper) — Falls can happen during ordinary activities such as walking on stairs, getting out of bed or reaching for an item. Federal health agencies say several practical steps — including safer home arrangements, medication reviews, vision checks and strength and balance exercises — can help older adults reduce fall risks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 4.5 million emergency-department visits for older-adult falls occurred in 2024. A separate CDC facts page gives a different figure: about 3 million emergency-department visits each year among older people. The agency pages provided do not explain whether the difference reflects a different year, definition or data source.
The available figures do not establish that emergency visits are increasing over time. They do show that falls are a significant reason older adults seek emergency care, while federal guidance identifies steps that may address common risks.
Start with the home
The CDC, National Institute on Aging and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommend checking the home for hazards that can cause a person to trip or lose balance.
Their guidance includes removing clutter and loose rugs, improving lighting, securing stairs with handrails and adding grab bars in bathrooms. The agencies also recommend keeping frequently used items within reach and avoiding chairs, boxes or other unstable surfaces when climbing is necessary.
The National Institute on Aging advises older adults to use properly fitted assistive devices when needed and to wear supportive, nonskid footwear. It also recommends standing up slowly, since a sudden change in position can contribute to dizziness or loss of balance.
The AAOS says research supports simple home-safety changes, but the guidance page does not identify the underlying study or quantify how much any particular modification reduces falls or injuries.
Review medicines, vision and health conditions
The CDC recommends that older adults review their medicines with a health professional and have their eyes checked annually. The National Institute on Aging also advises discussing medication side effects, vision and hearing with a doctor. Limiting alcohol is another measure included in NIA guidance.
The CDC says clinicians should screen patients for fall risk, look for factors that can be changed and respond with appropriate clinical or community-based interventions. CDC fall-prevention guidance also includes evaluation and treatment for osteoporosis when needed.
Older adults who fall should tell a doctor even if they do not feel pain, according to the National Institute on Aging. The agency says a fall can be a sign of a medical problem or of a correctable issue involving medication or eyesight.
Build strength and balance
The CDC and NIA recommend physical activity, including exercises that improve strength and balance. The CDC lists tai chi among examples of activities that can help with strength and balance.
The New York State Office for the Aging lists gait, balance and functional training, along with programs such as Tai Chi, Matter of Balance and Stepping On. It also recommends individualized fall-risk assessments and home assessments. The agency says vitamin D supplementation may be considered for people who are vitamin-D deficient.
The Minnesota Department of Health likewise recommends activity, nutrition, correction of home hazards and management of health conditions and medicines that may increase fall risk.
Exercise and medication changes should be matched to a person’s health needs. The CDC’s guidance directs health care providers to assess individual risk rather than apply one approach to everyone.
Make a plan before a fall happens
Fall-prevention guidance also addresses what to do after a fall. A response plan can include a way to call for help, arrangements that allow emergency responders to enter the home and a list of family members, friends or neighbors who can be contacted.
The National Institute on Aging advises seeking medical guidance after a fall, even when there is no immediate pain. That follow-up can help identify health, medication or vision issues that may raise the chance of another fall.
For older adults, the goal of these steps is not to eliminate every risk. It is to identify hazards and health factors that can be addressed while supporting safe movement and independence at home.
