Most falls are preventable. Knowing your specific risk is where it starts.

AI scores the factors that actually predict falls — medications, balance, home hazards. A physician attests the prevention plan that matches your situation.

Need a risk score first?

Start at fallrisks.com — 60-second STEADI score + room-by-room home walk-through.

This site covers what to do about the risk you already know about: exercise programs, medication review, home modification, and when to bring in caregiver support.

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60-second self-check

How confident are you on your feet?

Balance confidence is one of the strongest predictors of falling — and one of the most improvable. Rate a few everyday activities and watch your confidence meter.

For each activity, slide to how confident you are that you can do it without losing your balance — from 0% (not confident at all) to 100% (completely confident). Answer for yourself, or for the person you care for.

80%
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80%

Adapted from the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale. Educational only — not the scored clinical instrument.

Which intervention fits this situation?

Four questions about mobility, medications, home hazards, and support. Routes to the highest-yield intervention for your specific situation.

How would you describe their balance right now?

Think about what you observe day to day — not what a form says.

What the evidence actually says

Four interventions with strong clinical evidence. Cochrane reviews, RCTs, CDC STEADI program data.

Exercise

Otago Exercise Programme

35% reduction in fall rate — Cochrane 2019

A New Zealand-developed home exercise program of progressive leg strengthening and balance exercises, delivered by a physiotherapist or trained professional over 5 home visits and monthly phone calls. The most rigorously studied fall prevention exercise program. Effective even in adults over 80.

JointCoach Otago program
Exercise

Tai Chi

23–34% fall rate reduction — multiple RCTs

Group or individual Tai Chi training improves balance, proprioception, and reduces fear of falling — a significant independent risk factor. The Yang style, practiced twice weekly for 12 weeks, shows the strongest evidence. Also associated with reduced fear of falling, which itself is a fall risk.

Find a class with Sage
Medication

Medication Review

4+ medications = 2–3x fall risk — CDC STEADI

Polypharmacy, particularly sedatives, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antihypertensives, and antihistamines, is the most modifiable fall risk factor for most older adults. A pharmacist-led or physician-led medication reconciliation can often reduce risk significantly — sometimes by stopping or substituting a single drug.

Talk to Sage about meds
Environment

Home Modification

Roughly 50% of falls occur at home — CDC data

Bathroom grab bars, non-slip bath mats, improved lighting, removal of loose rugs, and secured handrails reduce fall incidence in the home. A formal home safety assessment — ideally by an occupational therapist — systematically identifies hazards that family members routinely overlook. HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity.

Explore home care support
CDC STEADI Framework

The 12 risk factors that actually predict falls — and what to do about each

The CDC's STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) program identifies these 12 clinical risk factors. Each one has a specific, evidence-backed intervention. Addressing the modifiable ones produces the greatest reduction in risk.

Source: CDC STEADI Initiative 2023; AGS/BGS Fall Prevention Clinical Practice Guideline 2019; Cochrane Falls Prevention Review (Sherrington et al.) 2019; AGS Beers Criteria 2023.

Find the right intervention for your situation

Talk to Sage

Ask anything about fall prevention. Sage knows the evidence.

When to seek care immediately

These situations require evaluation — do not wait to see if they resolve.

1

A fall that results in head injury, even without loss of consciousness

2

Inability to get up after a fall

3

Increasing unsteadiness or needing to hold onto furniture to walk

4

Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up

5

Two or more falls in the past year

6

Fear of falling that limits daily activities

7

New difficulty with stairs or uneven surfaces

8

Sudden changes in balance or coordination

We help each other.

Real people who have been where you are. Real words. Real stories.

These are peer-to-peer stories, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Fall prevention in depth

Evidence-based articles for patients and families who want to understand more.

When to Worry

After a fall: what to do and when to get help

If you or a loved one falls, the immediate priority is assessing for injury before attempting to get up. Moving too quickly after a fall can worsen an unrecognized injury.

For anyone who falls and cannot get up, is confused, has severe pain, or sustained a head injury — call 911. Do not leave them alone. If they are on blood thinners (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban), a head injury that appears minor still requires emergency evaluation, as these medications can cause slow-expanding brain bleeds that may not be symptomatic for hours.

For a fall where the person is conscious, oriented, and not in severe pain: encourage them to rest, assess for injuries systematically (head, neck, hip, wrist — the most common fracture sites), and help them to a sturdy chair before attempting to stand. The "long lie" — remaining on the floor for more than an hour — causes muscle breakdown, pressure injury, dehydration, and hypothermia, and is itself associated with higher mortality than the fall itself.

After a fall with any injury or after a fall in a person with osteoporosis or over 75, medical evaluation within 24–48 hours is appropriate. Occult hip fractures are missed on initial X-ray in 2–10% of cases — if pain persists after a "normal" X-ray, request MRI.

Source: CDC STEADI Falls Response 2023; JAGS Hip Fracture Occult Detection Review.

Frequently asked questions

Real questions patients and families ask about fall prevention. Answers reviewed by Josh Emdur, DO, board-certified internal medicine physician.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

JE

Reviewed by Josh Emdur, DO

Board-certified internal medicine. Licensed in all 50 states. altru.care

Last reviewed: April 2025

Medical disclaimer: The information on this website is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not replace a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

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