Exercise programs like Otago cut falls by about a quarter to a third (Cochrane, 2019). A timed chair walk, a balance-confidence check and a four-question finder cover the factors that actually predict falls — medications, balance, home hazards — and point you to the next step that matches your situation.
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.
Two things to do in about five minutes each. Both run on this device; nothing is sent. Emergency signs are listed first on both pages.
The TUG test measures functional mobility — stand from a chair, walk 3 meters (10 feet), turn around, walk back, and sit. The CDC STEADI program uses 12 seconds as the primary fall-risk screening threshold. No equipment needed.
Before you start — set up:
TUG normative reference (seconds)
Sources: Podsiadlo & Richardson, J Am Geriatr Soc 1991; CDC STEADI Algorithm 2024; Shumway-Cook A et al., Phys Ther 2000. Not a substitute for clinical evaluation. Have someone present for safety during the test.
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.
Adapted from the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale. Educational only — not the scored clinical instrument.
Four questions about mobility, medications, home hazards, and support. Routes to the highest-yield intervention for your specific situation.
Think about what you observe day to day — not what a form says.
Four interventions with strong clinical evidence. Cochrane reviews, RCTs, CDC STEADI program data.
About a 20-35% 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.
Track PT-prescribed exercise (JointCoach) →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.
Ask about finding a class →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.
Ask about medication review →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. May be HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity.
Explore home care support →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 situationAsk anything about fall prevention. Answers draw on the same evidence cited throughout this site.
Two routes: 911 now, or the doctor’s office soon.
If you are alone and cannot get up: call for help or 911, then try to get comfortable while you wait.
Call 911Three paths — based on what will make the biggest difference for your situation.
Multi-factor risk, assistive device in use, or no caregiver present. Worker-owned companion care, and a physician-reviewed letter of medical necessity where a case qualifies for HSA/FSA.
co-op.care →If a physical therapist prescribes your balance exercises, JointCoach can track each session with your phone camera so the PT sees progress.
JointCoach →Sedatives, blood pressure meds, antidepressants. This tool can help you prepare a specific list of questions for your next appointment.
Ask a question →Caring for someone who has fallen? familycaregive.com has a private one-question check-in for the caregiver. Want to say what matters before a fall changes things? caregoals.com keeps your answers on your device.
A place for people who have been where you are to share what happened and what helped, in their own words.
These are peer-to-peer stories, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Evidence-based articles for patients and families who want to understand more.
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.
Real questions patients and families ask about fall prevention. General education, not medical advice.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
General education, not medical advice
Check the sources linked here, and confirm anything important with your own clinician.
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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