Exercise is a great falls prevention strategy in older people’s care
Falls are common among older people, but exercise can be a cost-effective and non-pharmacological approach to preventing them and boosting health and well-being
Falls among older people are common, potentially causing distress, traumatic injuries, fear of falling, a sedentary lifestyle and even death. Approximately 30% of people aged 65 years and over, and more than 50% of people aged 80 years and over, fall at least once a year.
Falls prevention is vital to reduce the incidence and adverse effects of falls, including hospital admissions, and improve older people’s quality of life so they can spend more time with their loved ones where they live and enjoy what they like to do.
Exercise is one cost-effective, non-pharmacological approach to falls prevention that can improve health outcomes and quality of life for older people. Its aims range from muscle building and strengthening, to improving resistance and endurance.
Exercise can improve balance and gait, and potentially reduce the fear of falling
As my CPD article, Exercise as a falls prevention strategy in the care of older people, shows, participation in the right type of regular exercise improves older people’s muscle strength, resistance, balance and gait speed and reduces falls.
Crucially, the improvements in balance and gait because of exercise can potentially reduce the fear of falling and increase older people’s confidence to continue undertaking the activities they enjoy.
Regular exercise can also improve older people’s psychological well-being, cognitive function and provide a sense of achievement as they reach their targets. Given its benefits, exercise should be seen as a core component of holistic care.
Nurses can take the initiative in encouraging older people to exercise and working with members of the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT), including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and doctors, to develop and implement appropriate exercise-based falls prevention strategies. MDT working ensures all important aspects are considered, including access to resources, developing and using exercise charts for documentation and recording progress.
Further information
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (2022) Falls: Applying all Our Health
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