Falls (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)
Introduction
Falls and fall-related injuries are a common and serious problem for older people. People aged 65 and older have the highest risk of falling, with 30% of people older than 65 and 50% of people older than 80 falling at least once a year. [1]
The human cost of falling includes distress, pain, injury, loss of confidence, loss of independence and mortality. Falling also affects the family members and carers of people who fall. Falls with fragility fractures are estimated to cost the NHS more than £4.4 billion per year which includes £1.1 billion in Social Care [2]. Therefore, falling has an impact on quality of life, health and healthcare costs. [3]