You can work with your GP or healthcare provider to find out if you are at risk of falling. Falls are common among older adults and it’s important to get the right help to reduce the impact a fall can have on your health, independence, and quality of life.

Your strength and balance

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the statements below, talk to your GP or other healthcare provider.

1. I have fallen in the last year
   If you’ve fallen once, you’re more likely to fall again.

2. I use or have been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely
   If you need a walker to get around, you may be more likely to fall.

3. I can’t get out of a chair without using my hands
   This may be a sign of weak leg muscles

4. I have trouble stepping up onto a curb
   This may be a sign of weak leg muscles.

5. I steady myself by holding onto furniture
   This may be a sign of poor balance.

6. Sometimes I feel unsteady when I am walking
   This may be a sign of poor balance.

Your healthcare provider can test your strength and balance and recommend the right exercises or therapies to help you improve. They may suggest strength and balance classes for older adults.

Find a class near you

Your physical wellbeing

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the statements below, make an appointment to discuss it with your GP or healthcare provider.

1. I have lost some feeling in my feet
   Numbness in your feet can cause stumbles and lead to falls.
   
   
2. I feel sleepy, light-headed, dizzy, or drowsy, especially when I stand up or bend over
   Side effects from medicines for sleeping, blood pressure, mood enhancement, etc can increase your risk of falling.
   
   
3. I can’t see well, even with my glasses
   Your eyes change as you age and the type of glasses you may need too. If you struggle to see, you can easier slip, trip or fall.
   
   
4. I can’t hear well
   Research shows older adults with hearing loss are more prone to falling.
   
   
5. I rush to the bathroom
   Having to rush to the toilet, especially at night, increases your chance of falling.

Your GP can review your current health status, medications you use, and any medical conditions that may increase your risk of falling. They can also refer you to other healthcare providers for tests such as hearing or eye tests.

Your mental wellbeing

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the statements below, make an appointment to discuss your concerns with your GP.

1. I walk less as I worry about falling
   If you don’t walk a lot because you are worried about falling, it can lead to weakened muscles, which impacts your strength and balance.
   
   
2. I am less active as I feel uncertain and I am afraid of losing my balance
   If you don’t exercise or are not active regularly, your strength and balance can get worse.
   
   
3. I often feel sad or depressed
   Symptoms of depression, such as not feeling well or feeling slowed down, are linked to falls.

Your GP or healthcare provider can talk to you about your worries and concerns and how to address them. They can test your strength and balance and help you find the best way to be active. They can also refer you to the right person if you want to talk to a mental health practitioner about your fears and concerns.