The chances of falling increase as you get older. About half the falls older people have are due to accidents, and about half are health-related.
Most falls result in a quick recovery.
However, some falls, particularly those that result in fractures, cause permanent disability and can even shorten lives. By the age of 90, one woman in four has fallen and fractured her hip. A serious fall often brings about a loss of confidence, fear of falling, and a dependence on others. As you get older, eyesight and hearing decline. Reflexes tend to be slow.