Slips, Trips and Falls

Did you now that in the UK there are over million slips, trips and falls each year ?

Having a fall in later life is a concern for many of us. As we get older the risk of having a fall increases and the consequences can be more serious, both physically and emotionally. Slips, trips and falls are the most frequent type of accident and many occur in and around the home, usually on the level ground.

Facts about falls:

• Around 30% of over 65's living in the community will fall per year
• Over 60% of people in nursing homes fall each year
• The rate of falls injury hospitalisation increases  for over 65's with rates being higher in women than men
• 75% of falls-related deaths occur in the home.

In Worcestershire on average:

• More than two thousand people are admitted to hospital every year due to a fall
• More than 600 are admitted to hospital with a hip fracture per year.

Falls appear to most common within the bedroom, bathroom or kitchen.

Those falls that happen indoors are more likely to result in hip fractures and those that happen outside are more likely to injure the wrist.

Nursing home residents  fall more frequently than those within the community. Data has shown that 30-50% of residents in care homes fall each year and 40% of those will fall again.

In 2008/09 more than 5,000 calls were made to the West Midlands Ambulance Service with regards to slips, trips and falls in Worcestershire. Of those, more than 2,000 were taken to Accident and Emergency departments for further treatment.

Within these pages you will find:

How to find out whether you are at risk of falling

Tips, general advice and FAQs about falling

Where to find out more information