ABSTRACT
It has been shown that around 30% of people over the age of 65 will fall in any given year and that this figure increases to 40% of those aged over 80 years. 1 ' 2 People in nursing homes seem at particular risk, an estimate has been made of 1.5 falls per bed per year. 3 Also, those recently discharged from hospital appear to have a higher chance of falling. 4 Even in the absence of injury, 47% of people over the age of 72 will be unable to get up after a fall at home. 5 Falls have been found to account for 39% of emergency department attendances in those aged over the age of 50 years. 6 A large proportion of falls in the elderly result in hospital admission and on discharge a significant number will be placed in residential facilities. 7
