Staying Steady on Your Feet: What the Latest Falls Advice Means

A fall can be a turning point. For many older adults, a single fall, or even the fear of one, is enough to start shrinking the world: fewer walks, less time on the feet, more time being careful. The reassuring message from the latest Australian guidance is that falls are common but not an unavoidable part of getting older, and a lot of the risk can be reduced.

In 2025 the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released updated best-practice guidelines for preventing falls, covering hospitals, residential aged care, and people living at home. One of the shifts in thinking is away from simply scoring someone as high or low risk, and toward understanding each person's particular risks and doing something practical about them.

The numbers explain why this matters. Falls are a leading cause of injury and hospital admission in people over 65, and around 400 older Australians are admitted to hospital because of a fall every single day. Yet a meaningful share of falls are considered preventable, which is exactly where the right kind of exercise comes in.

When researchers pooled the evidence, the picture was clear. A large Cochrane review of 108 trials found that exercise programs reduce the rate of falls by about 23 percent on average, and programs that really focus on balance, done for a few hours a week, can do considerably better. The common thread in the programs that work is that they challenge balance, not just general walking, alongside building leg strength.

This is the kind of thing a physiotherapist assesses. Rather than a one size fits all class, it usually starts by looking at how you balance, how strong your legs are, how you walk and turn, and what in your daily life or home might be adding risk. From there, the exercises are chosen to be challenging enough to make a difference while still being safe for you to do.

Cost is less of a barrier than many people expect. Since the Support at Home program began in November 2025, physiotherapy is funded under its clinical supports for eligible older adults, which can include the strength and balance work that helps reduce falls. A care manager can help arrange it within your plan.

If you have had a fall, noticed your balance is not what it was, or you are simply less confident on your feet than you used to be, it is worth acting early rather than waiting. Balance responds to training at any age. A good first step is an honest look at where things stand now, and a plan to build back some steadiness.