Seniors' falls prevention

Preventing a fall is an important part of healthy aging. Falls are a leading cause of injury across British Columbia (BC). One in three adults over 65 falls each year.

To reduce your risk of a fall:

Talk to your doctor/ primary care provider about falls.
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor/ primary care provider about medications that may increase your risk of a fall.
Complete a home safety checklist to learn how to make your home safer.
Engage in activities that improve your strength and balance. Aim to accumulate 150 minutes or more per week.
Talk to your doctor/ primary care provider about steps you can take to maintain good health such as visiting your optometrist and managing any chronic conditions.

If you need any further information please contact prevent.injury@northernhealth.ca

Northern Health falls prevention

Reports

In 2023 a Northern Health Public Health team conducted a falls prevention project. This project included a series of focus groups and a telephone survey.

The focus group participants were asked to share:

What people are currently doing to prevent a fall.
What resources are available to help prevent falls.
How falls prevention being is supported in community.
If the COVID-19 pandemic impacted falls prevention efforts.

The telephone survey asked 301 northerners about the activities they do to prevent a fall along with how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted falls prevention for them.

To learn more about the results of the project, read the following reports:

A focus on falls prevention in Northern BC (PDF) - Northern Health
Falls prevention: Insights from the Northeast (PDF) - Northern Health
Falls prevention: Insights from the Northwest (PDF) - Northern Health
Falls prevention: Insights from the Northern interior (PDF) - Northern Health

Resources

Home safety checklist (PDF) - Northern Health
Staying independent brochure (PDF) - Government of BC

More information

There are many simple ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of a fall.

Fall prevention - Government of BC
Falls prevention and healthy aging grant - Northern Health
Falls: Older adults - BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU)
Finding Balance Canada - BC Falls and Injury Prevention Coalition (BCFIPC)
Healthy Aging CORE BC - Health Aging CORE British Columbia
Home safety checklist - Government of BC
Northern Health healthy living in communities - Northern Health
Physical activity for falls prevention - Northern Health
Preventing falls in older adults - HealthLink BC
Preventing falls: Older adults - HealthLink BC
Seniors - Government of BC
Seniors and aging: Preventing falls in and around your home - Government of Canada
Seniors health - Northern Health
You CAN prevent falls! - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
What you can do to prevent a fall - Government of BC