Preventing Falls in Older Adults: Start with These Areas at Home
Falls are common among older adults, but they can be prevented in advance. At home, clear away trip hazards, install grab bars in the bathroom, and do not overlook issues related to medications and driving. This content is compiled based on information from the US CDC and is for reference by family members and caregivers.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Automatically reviewed, without human verification. Programmatic checks are not professional review. Seek professional advice where appropriate. Automatically reviewed on 10/4/2026, 7:14:25 AM
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Information for Older Adults | Still Going Strong | CDC · Original language: en
Read the original ↗Facts from the sources
According to US CDC information, more than one in four older adults report having had a fall each year. View source
If older adults have fallen, feel unsteady when standing or walking, or worry about falling, they can tell their doctor. View source
One can ask a doctor or pharmacist to review the medications being taken, because some medications may cause dizziness or drowsiness, thus increasing the risk of falls. View source
To prevent falls, one can remove trip hazards such as small rugs at home and keep the floor clear of clutter. View source
Grab bars can be installed next to the bathroom toilet and inside and outside the bathtub or shower to help prevent falls. View source
Older drivers can choose to drive during the day and in good weather, because nighttime or rainy and snowy weather increases the chance of car accidents. View source
For older people and families
If an older adult has fallen, walks unsteadily, or worries about falling, take them to see a doctor and explain the situation clearly.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review the medications the older adult is taking. Some medications may cause dizziness or drowsiness, increasing the risk of falls.
Put away small rugs in the home and clear clutter from the floor to reduce trip hazards.
Next to the bathroom toilet and inside and outside the bathtub and shower, you can ask professionals to install grab bars to help older adults stand steadily.
If the older adult drives, try to go out during the day and in good weather, avoiding nighttime and rainy or snowy days.
Every year, more than one in four older Americans have fallen. Do not treat an older adult's individual situation as inevitable; just pay more attention to the environment.
See what care and community teams can do
When teaching fall prevention to older adults in the community, explain that the statistical data are population proportions and cannot be used to determine whether a particular older adult will fall.
Remind older adults to have their medications reviewed, but medication adjustments must be completed by a doctor or pharmacist. Agencies cannot recommend stopping medications on their own.
During in-home assessments, first remove obvious trip hazards such as rugs and clutter, then discuss bathroom and hallway modifications based on actual conditions.
Before installing bathroom grab bars, professionals must check the wall, floor, and slip resistance level. Do not proceed directly with construction using a uniform size.
For older drivers, you may recommend travelling during the day and in good weather, but whether their driving ability is appropriate should be assessed by professionals such as doctors.
The community can establish referral channels to introduce older adults with a history of falls or unsteady gait to doctors, rather than judging risk on their own.
What needs local assessment
This content is compiled based on the US CDC web page information updated on August 4, 2025. It mainly applies to older adults in the United States and is not fully equivalent to the situation in China. The fall proportion in the statistics is population data and does not represent individual risk. Drug effects, driving ability, and specific home modification plans all require consultation with doctors, pharmacists, or professional construction personnel and on-site verification. For subsidies and standards in China, please refer to the policies of local government departments. Fact source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Original materials are available free of charge on the CDC website. This website and the localisation suggestions do not represent endorsement by CDC, HHS, or the US government; no images or logos have been reproduced.
Sources
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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