How common are falls?
- Some people may hide their falls as they do not want to be seen as old or frail
- Some people think it is normal to fall as we grow older and that nothing can be done
- Some people may be embarrassed by the circumstances, such as rushing to the bathroom
- Some people worry they will be put into a care home
- One in three people who have had a recent fall do not remember it
- That young people fall too; falling does not mean frailty
- Falls are not an inevitable part of ageing and we can treat and prevent falls
- Falls are not a reason to put someone into care
Falls prevalence


Steps you can take
- Keep a falls diary. A simple way to record the frequency of falls is to keep a falls diary. Each time a fall occurs it is recorded into the diary as soon as possible. This helps to get over the problem of forgetting falls, but also helps doctors and therapists to explore the causes behind falls. Sometimes the frequency and timing of falls can provide vital clues.
- Discover ways you can prevent falls during this course. Consider trying to use some of your new knowledge in your daily life.
- Remember that you are not alone. As we have seen above, falls are very common.
- Raise awareness of the importance of falls amongst your friends and family. Help people to understand that even really simple steps can help prevent falls and injury.
Our purpose is to transform access to education.
We offer a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life.
We believe learning should be an enjoyable, social experience, so our courses offer the opportunity to discuss what you’re learning with others as you go, helping you make fresh discoveries and form new ideas.
You can unlock new opportunities with unlimited access to hundreds of online short courses for a year by subscribing to our Unlimited package. Build your knowledge with top universities and organisations.
Learn more about how FutureLearn is transforming access to education