19-115 Falls Prevention Exercise Programme

Falls and related injuries are a common and serious problem for older people In the UK, 30% of people older than 65 and 50% of people older than 80 fall at least once a year.

Those who fall once are two to three times more likely to fall again within the year.

Falls are the most frequent type of accident in people aged over 65.

For those aged over 75, falls are also the most common cause of death from injury.

1-3 Falls have a large impact on quality of life as well as physical health.

A fall can damage confidence, reduce independence and increase social isolation.

An older person who has fallen has a 50% probability of significantly impaired mobility, in addition to a 10% probability of dying within a year.4 The impact of falls on healthcare costs is significant: in the UK, falls are estimated to cost the NHS more than £2.3 billion per year.2 Therefore Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) are inviting bids from providers who are able to provide a falls prevention exercise programme.