Don’t Wait to Trip: Why Fall Prevention for Adults (50–65+) Must Begin Now

Jenna Fralick, BScN RN

Introduction

For many adults, the word fall doesn’t feel personal — until it happens. It’s something that happens to “older people,” right? But in truth, falls are one of the most common and preventable causes of injury for adults aged 50 and up. Across Nova Scotia, hospitals see hundreds of avoidable admissions every year due to falls that happen in familiar places — kitchens, bathrooms, staircases, and driveways.

What makes this especially troubling is that most of these incidents could have been prevented with early awareness, environmental adjustments, and supportive care. That’s what makes fall prevention for adults not just a health issue — but a community one.

At Remember When HealthCare (RWHC), we believe that fall prevention isn’t about fear — it’s about freedom. And it starts long before someone needs a walker or a hospital bed.

The Truth About Falls: It’s Not Just About Age

We often imagine fall risks beginning at 80, not 50. But research tells a different story. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (2023), nearly one in three adults aged 50–64 experiences at least one fall each year — often related to medication side effects, vision changes, or loss of muscle tone (PHAC, 2023).

The same report found that early interventions, such as balance exercises, strength training, and home safety assessments, could reduce fall risk by up to 40%. Yet, most people don’t consider prevention until after the first scare.

One of our RWHC nurses, Steph, explains it perfectly:

“The first fall is never the first problem — it’s the first sign something’s been changing quietly.”

The key to prevention is awareness — and that awareness starts with adults who are still active, working, and caring for others.

The Caregiver Connection: When Helping Others Means Forgetting Yourself

Many of the families we support at RW HealthCare are caregivers — daughters, sons, spouses, friends — constantly moving, lifting, multitasking, and rarely resting. Caregiving itself increases fall risk because of fatigue, distraction, and physical strain.

You can’t pour from an empty cup — and you can’t steady someone else’s steps if your own are uncertain.

A 2022 Canadian study found that female caregivers aged 55–65 reported double the rate of fall-related injuriescompared to non-caregivers, often due to exhaustion and unsafe home environments (Harrison et al., 2022).

Fall prevention isn’t just for clients — it’s for caregivers, too. It’s about protecting your ability to keep doing what you love without burning out or getting hurt.

Fall Prevention for Adults Is About Independence, Not Age

We talk a lot about independence at RWHC — because it’s at the heart of everything we do. The truth is, fall prevention for adults is really about preserving that independence. It’s not about labeling someone as “frail.” It’s about recognizing early warning signs and making small, empowering changes before a crisis happens.

The most common risks include:

• Slippery or cluttered floors

• Inadequate lighting

• Unstable furniture

• Footwear that doesn’t provide proper support

• Medications causing dizziness or low blood pressure

• Vision or balance changes that go unaddressed

You don’t need to wait for a doctor’s recommendation to make these changes. Preventive action is one of the simplest ways to age with confidence — and avoid the emotional toll of recovery.

The Emotional Impact of a Fall

A fall doesn’t just bruise the body — it can shatter confidence. Many adults develop post-fall anxiety, a fear of moving freely again. They begin to limit their activities, avoid going out, or resist asking for help — leading to isolation and depression (King et al., 2021).

We’ve seen it firsthand. One of our clients described how a single fall in her kitchen changed everything:

“I went from gardening and walking every morning to being scared of my own stairs. It wasn’t the fall — it was the fear that followed after my fall.”

At RWHC, our role is to rebuild that confidence. Through strength-based care, mobility support, and environmental modifications, we help clients regain trust in their own movements. Because living safely at home should never mean living less.

Prevention Is Personal

There’s no one-size-fits-all plan for preventing falls. That’s why personalized care makes such a difference. Whether someone is living with diabetes, chronic pain, mobility challenges, or mild cognitive decline, prevention starts with understanding their environment, their habits, and their goals.

Our nurse-led team offers:

• In-home safety assessments to identify environmental risks

• Foot-care to improve stability

• Exercise and mobility programs through partnerships with physiotherapy and occupational therapists

• Medication reviews to detect balance-affecting side effects

• Caregiver education to prevent injury during support activities

  
  

It’s not about restriction — it’s about empowerment.

Check Out Our Home Safety Checklist

To help families take action right away, Remember When HealthCare has created a Home Safety Checklist — a free resource that walks you through simple steps to make your home safer.

It includes checklists, balance exercises, and home modification ideas that anyone can start today.

The Link Between Foot Health and Fall Prevention

Falls are often caused by something as simple as neglected feet. Painful corns, thick toenails, or reduced sensation (especially for persons living with diabetes or neuropathy) can alter balance and gait.

Our in-home foot-care services and Bedford foot-care clinic specialize in maintaining healthy feet for adults of all ages. Proper foot health reduces fall risk, improves mobility, and allows people to stay active and independent longer (Canadian Podiatric Medical Association, 2023).

Remember When HealthCare is proud to be an approved provider for home healthcare, advanced foot care, and home-care services through Veterans Affairs Canada — because caring for your feet is part of caring for your future.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Falls cost Canadians over $5.6 billion annually in healthcare expenses — more than any other type of injury (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2024). But the personal cost is far higher: loss of independence, hospitalization, or the inability to return home.

For family caregivers, the emotional cost is even greater — the guilt of “what if,” the exhaustion of recovery, and the realization that one moment changed everything.

That’s why prevention isn’t optional. It’s a decision you make every day — to move with intention, to prepare your space, and to take your health seriously before someone else has to.

Community Support: You’re Not Alone

Fall prevention works best when it’s shared. At RWHC, we often collaborate with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and community organizations to create integrated safety plans. These partnerships are designed to reduce stress for families while empowering clients to maintain control over their care.

Our team believes that home care should feel like community care — personal, familiar, and built on trust.

Call to Action

Don’t wait for the first fall to start thinking about prevention. Whether you’re a caregiver, a client, or someone beginning to plan for the future, small steps today can prevent big consequences tomorrow.

Learn how to make your home safer and stronger with personalized support.

👉 Visit our Resources Page to download our Home Safety Checklist, or explore our in-home and clinic foot-care services.

FAQ

Do you only offer fall prevention support for seniors?

No. Fall prevention is for everyone. At RWHC, we support adults of all ages — including persons living with disabilities — through personalized assessments, education, and safety planning.

Can I combine fall prevention with home-care or nursing services?

Absolutely. Fall prevention is part of our holistic approach to care. We integrate it into personal care, home support, and nursing visits to ensure safety and independence at every level.

References

Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2024). Injury and hospitalization statistics in Canada: Falls among adults aged 50+. CIHI.

Canadian Podiatric Medical Association. (2023). Foot health and fall prevention: Understanding the connection.CPMA Publications.

Harrison, J., O’Neill, P., & Walsh, R. (2022). The hidden risks of caregiving: Physical strain and fall injuries among middle-aged women. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 113(2), 189–197.

King, L., MacDonald, R., & Peters, A. (2021). Fear of falling and psychological resilience in middle-aged adults.Journal of Aging and Health, 33(8), 713–727.

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2023). Preventing falls across the lifespan: National injury surveillance report.Government of Canada.