Falls management and prevention: why we need more research

Falls are common in the ageing population with 30% of people over the age of 65 years falling at least once yearly increasing to 50% in the over 80 years age group. The human cost of falls includes distress, pain, injury, loss of confidence, loss of independence and mortality. Falls also cost the health service over £2.3 billion a year and an estimated four million bed days. With the number of people aged 65 and over predicted to increase by two million by 2021, costs are set to rise further. Falls are not just the result of getting older and many falls can be prevented. As a result, falls