1. Wales Estimated incidence of falls and prevention of falls
Epidemiology ?
100 community dwelling older people
30 to 60 suffer a fall each year
2 to 6 suffer fracture, head injury, serious laceration
15 to 30 fall more than once
765,200 people aged over 60
230,000 to 460,000 suffer a fall each year
11,500 to 45,900 suffer fracture, head injury, serious laceration
115,000 to 230,000 fall more than once
824,100 people aged over 60
247,200 to 494,5000 suffer a fall each year
12,400 to 49,400 suffer fracture, head injury, serious laceration
123,600 to 247,200 fall more than once
Estimated incidence of falls and prevention of falls

2. Stand up against falling down
What can Wales do to prevent the 2015 prediction from becoming a reality?
Stand up against falling down
Too many people believe that falling is an inevitable part of ageing. It is not. NHS professionals and the general public need to be taught that falls can be prevented.
Stop never fallers from becoming ever fallers
One of the simplest and most effective methods of falls prevention is exercise to improve strength and balance. Delivered at a population level, this can help to prevent people who have never fallen from falling.
Take a proactive approach to risk assessment
Current NHS approaches wait for people to fall and hurt themselves before seeking to manage risk. By carrying out annual risk assessments in primary care, fall risk factors can be identified and modified before an injury occurs. This means that the burden of emergency care on the NHS is reduced.
Take a ‘one day sooner’ approach to fallers admitted to hospital
Lengths of stay following a fall are long and place a significant burden upon the NHS. Analysis of admissions data suggest that reducing lengths of stay by just one day can reduce the NHS burden substantially.
Ensure that current practice is good practice
Estimated incidence of falls and prevention of falls