What is a fall?
A fall is only when you land on the floor
False
A fall is any form of "coming to rest on the ground, floor or other lower level, excluding intentional change in position to rest in furniture, wall or other objects" (World Health Organization, 2007). "Lower level" can include chairs, couches, beds, or other objects above ground level.
You can have a fall if you land on a chair or bed by accident
True
Falls only happen because of poor balance
False
Many things can impact falls:
- Balance and coordination
- Pain or other changes in sensation
- Medications or medication side effects
- Memory and attention
- Clutter and other environmental hazards
- Incontinence
- Visual impairment
Which can cause a fall?
A. Clutter
B. Medications
C. Poor vision
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Clutter: things in the way that you might trip on
Medications: taking medications properly reduces side effects like dizziness. Always ask your doctor questions you have about your medications.
Vision: not wearing your glasses makes it harder to see and increases risk of falling!
Only older adults can get hurt from falls
False
Anyone can fall and anyone can get injured by a fall.
Falls are a common cause of serious injury for people of all ages
True
Falls are the biggest cause of hospitalization for unintended injuries in every age group (Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and Parachute, 2022)
Falls can affect your mood and confidence
True
Falls can impact:
- Anxiety and depression
- Self-esteem and confidence
- Fear or falling or loss of independence
- Social isolation
- Challenges with meaningful daily activities
If you fall once, your chance of falling again goes UP or DOWN?
Up
Past falls are the strongest predictor of future falls
Most older adults who fall feel worried about falling again
True
Up to 70% of people with a recent fall experience fear of falling, which may lead to a reduction of physical activity that would otherwise help maintain physical health and prevent future falls (Appeadu & Bordoni, 2025).
Where do many older adults fall?
A. At home
B. At the beach
C. On airplanes
A. At home (52% of older adult falls occurred in the person's home)
Other reported falls were from the following:
- Walking on surfaces other than ice or snow (45%)
- Walking on ice or snow (18%)
- Going up and down stairs (11%)
- Due to health problems (6%)
- Sport or physical exercise (5%)
- Due to furniture / lifting furniture (5%)
- From an elevated position (5%)
- Other (6%)
The hip is the most commonly injured body part in all falls
False
The most commonly impacted body part is the shoulder or upper arm (15%). Other areas include:
- Knee, lower leg (13%)
- Ankle, foot (12%)
- Head (11%)
- Wrist (9%)
- Hip (8%)
- Lower back or spine (7%
(Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022)
Broken bones are a common injury from falls
True
Other injuries include:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Sprain or strain
- Scrapes, bruises, and blisters
- Cut, puncture, bite
- Concussion or other brain injury
- Dislocation
Falls only affect your body, not your daily life
False
Don't let the fear of falling prevent you from being active and going about your day. Inactivity creates an even greater risk of falling. Do the things you need to do and want to do!
As we get older, changes in strength, vision, and reaction time are called ____. As we get older, our risk of falling goes _____ (UP or DOWN).
Age-related changes / aging
Incontinence can increase fall risk due to ____.
Rushing to the bathroom
Which is a home hazard?
A. Good lighting
B. Clutter on the floor
C. Clear pathways
B. Clutter on the floor
Can cause trips and make it more difficult to move around safely
To prevent trips, remove _____ from the floor
Clutter / cords/ loose items that are TRIPPING HAZARDS
What kind of shoes are safest>
A. Slippery socks
B. Loose sandals
C. Sturdy, non-slip shoes
C. Sturdy, non-slip shoes
Good shoes for preventing falls have:
- good grip on the sole
- ankle support
- closed toe / fastenings (ie. velcro, laces, slip ons)
- cushion
- fit well
Turning on lights at night can help prevent falls
True
Trying to move around in the dark makes it harder to see obstacles
Using a walker or cane the right way helps prevent falls
True
Mobility aids help us move safer. It is important to use it if you have one and use it properly. If you have questions about your mobility aid, ask an Occupational or Physical Therapist.
Looking around for hazards like ice or pets is called ____ the environment. What kinds of things can get your way?
Scanning
Pets, curbs, ice, uneven surfaces, chairs, cords, boxes / stuff on the ground, etc.
Dizziness and pain can increase falls risk. It is important to tell someone if you are feeling dizzy or in pain to get proper support.
True
Planning ahead and paying attention can help prevent rushing and falling. What are some ways you can avoid rushing?
True
Planning your tasks/day - don't try to do too many things in one day/at once
Pace your tasks throughout the day/week - take your time!
Prioritize important things
Position what you need to complete a task (ie. wallet/purse, mobility aid, clothes, etc.) in easy to reach places to make things easier for yourself
To prevent dizziness, you should stand up ____ (slow or fast?).
Slowly
Give your body time to adjust to changing positions by rising slowly - from lying to sitting, sitting to standing, and standing to walking.
This prevents quick changes in blood pressure that cause dizziness!
By doing regular _______, I can improve my strength, balance, and coordination to prevent falls
Physical activity, walking, or exercise