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The Value of Occupational Therapy: Falls Assessment and Reduction
- Jackie Edwards
- Jun 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 31
-Introduction-
Falls and fall-related injuries in older individuals are common; one in three people aged over 65 have at least one fall every year. Occupational therapists (OTs) play a key role in assessing risk, improving safety at home and reducing falls by older people (Clarke, 2019). Home fall-hazard reduction interventions by OTs successfully reduce fall rates in older people by around 26%, a Cochrane review reveals (Lewis and Griffin, 2023).
Relevant members of this cohort should be supported to modify and make their homes safer. In doing so, they are more able to live meaningful and independent lives...
N.B. In relation to falls, the terms 'prevention' and 'reduction' are both used within literature. The latter is preferable and arguably more accurate, since risk can be reduced but never completely eliminated.
Home fall-hazard reduction interventions by OTs successfully reduce fall rates in older people by around 26% (Lewis and Griffin, 2023)
