Fall prevention for seniors: what actually works

In short

• Balance and strength training is the best-supported single measure, and Tai Chi is another option.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review all medicines, since some cause dizziness, drowsiness or low blood pressure.
• Get regular eye tests and hearing checks, wear well-fitting shoes with good grip and keep floors clear.
• Make home changes such as grab rails, non-slip mats, better lighting and fewer trip hazards.
• Tell your provider about every fall, even a minor one, because it can lead to a falls assessment.

Why falls matter

In the United States, falls among adults 65 and older caused more than 43,000 deaths in 2024, making them the top cause of injury death in this age group, and led to about 4.5 million emergency department visits, according to the CDC. WHO reports that falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, and that about 71 percent of fall deaths occur in people aged 60 and older.

Staying active and confident also matters. Preventing falls helps people stay independent, and the CDC states plainly that falls can be prevented. Tools such as the CDC's Falls Free CheckUp questionnaire let you assess your own risk, and its LIFE tool helps you build a personal prevention plan.

What raises the risk

• Muscle weakening with age and problems with balance or walking.
• Conditions that affect mobility or balance, such as arthritis, stroke, Parkinson's disease and dementia.
• Low blood pressure, including dizziness when standing up.
• Side effects of some medicines.
• Poor eyesight or hearing.
• Alcohol, which is involved in some fall-related emergency visits among older adults.
• Unsafe stairs, poor lighting, slippery surfaces and clutter at home.

Exercise: the first-line measure

For older people living in the community, WHO recommends exercise that includes balance and strength training, with Tai Chi as another option. A Cochrane review linked exercise to roughly a 23 percent reduction in falls in the trial populations studied. The NHS suggests staying active every day and doing strength and balance activities at least twice a week.

A supervised class is often a good place to start because an instructor can match the difficulty to you and make sure you have something stable to hold. Ask your provider or a local falls service where to find one.

Medicines and fall risk

Some medicines can affect balance or blood pressure, and the CDC notes that medicines can increase fall risk. Ask a doctor or pharmacist whether any of yours might. A review with them is one of the most practical steps you can take, particularly if you take several medicines.

Never stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own. If a medicine is a problem, your clinician can adjust it safely.

Home safety checklist

1. Floors.Reduce clutter, loose wires and loose rugs, or secure them.
2. Bathroom.Fit grab rails and non-slip bath mats, and consider rails on stairs.
3. Lighting.Keep halls, stairs and the route to the bathroom well lit.
4. Footwear.Wear well-fitting shoes or slippers with good grip.
5. Reaching and lifting.Do not try heavy lifting or high reaching alone; ask for help.

WHO found that assessing and modifying the home reduced falls by about 38 percent in higher-risk older adults, with no clear effect in people who were not selected for risk. In other words, targeting is key. Ask your provider whether a home safety assessment is available through a falls program or your insurance.

Vision, hearing and vitamin D

Have regular eye tests and hearing checks, since eyesight and hearing problems are listed among the causes of falls. Stay hydrated, eat well, look after your bone health and keep heavy alcohol use in check. A walking aid can help if you need one, and a personal alarm or a phone you carry gives you a way to call for help.

On vitamin D, WHO does not recommend routine supplements as a general fall-prevention measure. They may be appropriate when a deficiency has been confirmed, and high doses may cause harm, so decide with your doctor.

What to do after a fall

1. Stay calm.Check for pain or injury before you move.
2. If you can get up, go slowly.Roll onto your side, get onto your hands and knees, hold something stable and stand up gradually, then rest.
3. If you cannot get up, call for help.Use an alarm or a phone, or shout or bang on the wall. Keep warm, keep gently moving your limbs and change position about every 30 minutes to help prevent pressure sores.
4. Tell your clinician.Even if you were not hurt, mention the fall.

When to see a doctor

See your primary care provider if you are worried about your balance or mobility, or have had a fall. You may be referred to a falls service that can check for muscle weakness, bone health and eyesight problems, offer strength and balance training, assess home safety and review medicines.

Red flags, call 911: someone has fallen and may have injured their head, back, neck or hip, or cannot get up, or they lost consciousness, have worsening headache, vomiting, confusion or a limb that looks out of shape.

Questions and answers

Sources

1. CDC — Older Adult Falls
2. WHO — Falls fact sheet
3. NHS — Falls

Sources checked on 29 October 2026.