Info on

Risk Factors for Falls

Safety
20 November 2025
Are You at High-Risk for Falling

Studies have found numerous risk factors for falls in older adults aged 65 and older.  

The more risk factors an individual is exposed to, the greater their risk for falls.  

Identifying risk factors for fall and raising awareness to them can help reduce preventable risk factors, such as:  

  • Difficulty maintaining balance  
  • Vitamin D deficiency  
  • Medications that may cause falls such as antipsychotic medications, medications for managing blood pressure and more  
  • Sudden blood pressure drop when changing positions (postural hypotension)  
  • Vision and hearing problems  
  • Ankle or foot problems  
  • Obstacles inside the home and an unsafe environment  

Causes of falls among older adults

It is customary to divide risk factors into two: internal and external factors:

Internal risk factors

  • Advanced age.
  • Previous falls.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Balance and walking difficulties.
  • Vision and hearing problems.
  • Postural hypotension.
  • Chronic conditions such as rheumatism, incontinence, stroke, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and dementia.
  • Fear of falls.

External risk factors

External risk factors are mostly related to unsafe home environment, for example:

  • Stairways without proper railings or ill-fitted stairways (such as a spiraling stairway or a stairway with stairs in changing heights).
  • Bathtubs and showers without safety railings.
  • Dim or weak lighting.
  • Obstacles at home that cause stumbling (such as mats, objects on the ground, furniture and so forth).
  • Slippery surfaces or surfaces with changing heights.

Additional external risk factors:

  • Side effects of medications such as antipsychotic medications.
  • Improper use of walking aids such as a cane, a walker and so forth.

Ways to reduce the risk of falls