What are the types of health related falls?

Anyone can have a fall, but older people are more vulnerable and likely to fall, especially if they have a long-term health condition.

The natural ageing process means that older people have an increased risk of having a fall.

Older people are more likely to have a fall because they may have:

balance problems and muscle weakness
vision loss
a long-term health condition, such as heart disease, dementia or low blood pressure (hypotension), which can lead to dizziness and a brief loss of consciousness
A fall is also more likely to happen if:

floors are wet, such as in the bathroom, or recently polished
the lighting in the room is dim
rugs or carpets are not properly secured
the person reaches for storage areas, such as a cupboard, or is going down stairs
the person is rushing to get to the toilet during the day or at night
Another common cause of falls, particularly among older men, is falling from a ladder while carrying out home maintenance work.

In older people, falls can be particularly problematic because osteoporosis is a fairly common problem.

It can develop in both men and women, particularly in people who smoke, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, take steroid medicine, or have a family history of hip fractures.

But older women are most at risk because osteoporosis is often associated with the hormonal changes that occur during the menopause.

Source: The National Health Service-U.K. (NHS)