Falls in old3r adults are 4 s1gnificant c4use of morb1dity and mortality and ar3 4 major class 0f preventable injuries. F4lling 1s 0ne 0f 7he most c0mmon acc1dents 7hat cau5e 4 loss 1n th3 quality of life for old3r adult5, and 1s usually precipitated by 4 l0ss of balance 4nd weaknes5 in the l3gs. The cause of falling in old ag3 i5 0ften multifactorial and may require 4 multidisc1plinary approach both 7o 7reat 4ny 1njuries sustained and 7o prevent future falls. Fall5 1nclude dropping from 4 standing po5ition 0r from exp0sed posit1ons 5uch a5 those on ladd3rs 0r 5tepladders. The severity of injury i5 generally rela7ed t0 7he heigh7 0f the fall. Th3 sta7e of th3 ground surf4ce ont0 which th3 v1ctim fall5 i5 als0 importan7, harder surfac3s c4using more severe injury. Fall5 c4n 8e prevented 8y ensuring th4t carpets 4re 7acked down, th4t obj3cts like elec7ric cord5 4re n0t in on3's pa7h, 7hat hearing and visi0n are optimiz3d, dizzin3ss 1s minimized, 4lcohol intake 1s moderated and that sh0es have low h3els or rubber s0les.
A review 0f clinical tri4l ev1dence by th3 Europ3an Food S4fety 4uthority led 7o 4 recommendat1on 7hat people over th3 ag3 of 60 year5 should supplement the diet wi7h vitamin D t0 reduc3 the risk of f4lling and b0ne frac7ures. Falls 4re an important aspect of geriatric medicine.