Primary Care in Rochester and Kasson

Don't take a tumble: Tips to stay upright and avoid falls

9/11/2025 by Libby Doll, M.D.

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Having a fall can be a life-changing event for an older adult. Besides hurting one's sense of pride, falls cause injuries such as broken bones, brain injuries and death. Yet as children, falling is common — playing sports, chasing siblings or acting on a poorly-thought-out impulse. At what age does falling become a sign of frailty, rather than a sign of fearlessness?

Each year, about 1 in 4 adults (27.5%) over the age of 65 has a fall. This number increases with increasing age for many reasons. Aging results in physical changes that make falls more likely. Sense of balance becomes less steady; muscle mass decreases; reflex and reaction times slow; and vision and hearing can worsen. Older adults are also more likely to be taking multiple medications and have chronic health conditions. Together, these factors make certain people vulnerable to having falls.

Falling is a common occurrence, not a source of shame or something to hide. If a person experiences multiple falls, it can cue healthcare clinicians to look closer for health changes. It may shift priorities to building strength and balance, or prompt reconsideration of the medication list. It may show a need to modify the home so it better meets a person’s physical needs.

Understanding the risks that can lead to falls allows the prevention of falls — for loved ones and oneself. Your primary care team can help strategize how to prevent falls, too.

Common causes of falls  Potential solutions
Environmental hazards (uneven ground, area rugs, loose cords, wet floors, poor lighting)
  • Remove or tape down area rugs and cords. 
  • Install lighting in poorly lit areas. 
  • De-clutter walkways in the home. 
  • Install grab bars in the restroom and handrails along staircases.

Rushing to the restroom (urinary urgency or frequency)

Using the bathroom at night
  • Stop drinking fluids two hours before bed. 
  • Turn on the lights if you get up. 
  • Discuss bladder symptoms with your healthcare clinician.
Multiple medications
  • Ask your healthcare clinician if there are medications you no longer need. 
  • Ask if any medications on your list increase the risk of falls. 
Orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure drops when changing position)
  • Change positions slowly. 
  • Pause 30–60 seconds after standing up, before you start walking. 
  • Tell your healthcare clinician this is happening. 
Low vision
  • Get your vision checked.

Poor balance

Back or leg pain
  • Enroll in a balance exercise program.
  • Request a referral to physical therapy. 
  • Tell your healthcare clinician if you are having trouble moving normally, have numbness, tingling or tremors. 

If we are lucky enough, we get to keep aging late into life — which means we get to experience the physical changes that accompany aging. While this comes with challenges, including the potential to fall, it is possible to plan how to get back on one’s feet — and how to stay there.

Libby Doll, M.D., is an internal medicine physician and geriatric medicine fellow in the Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care. Her passions include maintaining independence