WHO global report on falls prevention in older age

Overview

Fall-related injuries are more common among older persons and are a major cause of pain, disability, loss of independence and premature death. Approximately 28-35% of people aged of 65 and over fall each year increasing to 32-42% for those over 70 years of age. The financial costs are substantial and increasing worldwide. The personal, family and societal impact of fall-related injuries for older persons, their families and society, and the possibility of effective interventions make this an important global health issue.

Effectively targeting resources for the prevention of falls and related injuries requires enhanced knowledge of the scale and nature of the problem as well as evidence on effective interventions. This requires raising awareness to the magnitude of older adult falls, intensifying research efforts and encouraging action towards prevention worldwide.

This Report reflects the recommendations and conclusions from the WHO Technical Meeting on Falls Prevention in Older Age which took place in Victoria, Canada in February 2007.

The report describes the magnitude of falls, a framework for prevention and the challenges faced to tackle this problem. It also includes examples of effective interventions.