Preventing Falls for the Elderly

Falls in older people are a major public health problem, with 1 in 3 people aged 65 and over falling each year. It is well recognised that falls result from the interaction between environmental hazards and physiological risk factors, such as impaired vision, muscle weakness, and slow reaction time. More recently, foot problems, which affect 1 in 3 older people and are a common reason for consultation in primary care, have been associated with falls.