The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released its updated guideline on preventing falls in older adults and in those aged 50 and over who are at higher risk. The guidance, published on 29th April 2025, focuses on early identification, tailored care, and multidisciplinary support to reduce preventable injuries, hospital admissions, and long-term loss of independence.
Key recommendations include:
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Offering a comprehensive falls assessment and management plan for people who:
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Have fallen in the past year and are living with frailty
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Were injured or lost consciousness during a fall
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Were unable to get up without help after falling
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Have experienced two or more falls
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Providing timely, targeted support in high-risk settings such as care homes or post-discharge
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Promoting prevention through personalised care, medication review, strength and balance training, and home safety checks
Why this matters:
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Around one-third of people aged 65 and over, and half of those aged 80 and over, fall at least once a year
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In 2022/23, there were approximately 210,000 emergency hospital admissions in England related to falls among people aged 65+
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146,700 of these involved people aged 80 and over
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Falls are the most common cause of fragility fractures; between 18% and 33% of people die within a year of a hip fracture
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The total annual cost of fragility fractures to the UK is estimated at £4.4 billion, including £1.1 billion for social care
"Falls are the leading cause of hospital admissions in older people and can have serious consequences, including being a primary reason in a person losing their independence later on in life."
These new recommendations will be a central theme at these upcoming conferences:
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Falls Prevention Summit: Reducing Inpatient Falls & Harm from Inpatient Falls
Friday 13th June 2025 | 44 Hallam Street, London OR Virtual -
Falls Prevention in Older People
Thursday 16th October 2025 | TheStudio, Birmingham, OR Virtual -
Falls Technology: Identifying and Preventing Falls through Innovation
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
This dedicated event explores the role of digital tools, data-driven monitoring, and wearable tech in falls prevention.
Both events will explore the implementation of the NICE guideline (NG249), practical strategies for inpatient and community falls reduction, and the role of innovation and technology in preventing harm.
Find out more:
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NICE Guideline NG249: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG249
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NICE Press Release: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/new-guideline-will-help-cut-falls-and-related-hospital-admissions-for-older-and-at-risk-people
