Posters for 3rd World Falls Congress 2026

Introduction: Communicare in Southampton, deliver a programme aimed at falls reduction through the good neighbours’ network charity. This urban community approach has a non-clinical focus and equips community dwellers with knowledge and skills. The initiative comprises information delivery in community gatherings, together with the provision of an “Activity Buddy” approach. The inclusive programme is developed and delivered cognisant of the background and attitudes of the diverse community served. Method: Information delivery is primarily at Communicare’s Friendship Clubs. These gatherings

Background Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) is a promising intervention for preventing falls among community-dwelling older adults. Effective reactive postural control is essential to maintain stability when encountering unexpected perturbations. However, the immediate and sustained effects of short-term PBT on reactive postural control in older adults remain inconsistent across existing research. Additionally, the influence of lower limb dominance on PBT training responses remains unclear. Methods In this assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 48 community-dwelling older

Introduction: Quantitative gait analysis can support clinical diagnostics, monitor progression of diseases, and provide information about the efficacy of interventions. We wanted to investigate values for gait parameters covering the broad spectrum of ageing, gender and health . Therefore, we differentiated between the groups robust, transient and frail by functional ability as measured with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Methods: Three established frameworks that assess gait characteristics were combined into a new framework-based approach comprising eight gait parameters: gait

Introduction: Case-mix classifications of health resource utilization categorize individuals based on their health resource utilization patterns. Cost trajectories (and hence case-mixes) among fallers are not yet established. Examining whether case-mixes exist, based on health care resource use trajectories, will provide novel insight into cost-use patterns of older adults at high-risk of falls. Hence, we identified distinct case-mixes among older fallers determined by their longitudinal health resource utilization (HRU) cost trajectories and outlined baseline predictors of these HRU case

Introduction Falls management exercise (FaME) programmes, led by postural stability instructors, improve physical function and reduce falls risk. However, older adults rarely continue exercising after programmes end, resulting in lost improvements and increased falls risk. This study aimed to co-design an exercise maintenance intervention acceptable for older adults to receive and service providers to deliver. Methods In consultation with older adults exiting FaME programmes and professional stakeholders, the intervention was developed using an iterative three-stage co-design approach. In

Introduction: Peripheral neuropathy is a risk factor for falls, especially in older people with chronic diseases. Diabetes-related foot disease is a chronic disease that is predominantly prevalent in older people, and peripheral neuropathy is present in most patients. While this increases their risk of falling, surprisingly little is known about falls within this high-risk population. Our aim was to investigate fall incidence in people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, and whether demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with falls. Method: Prospective longitudinal

Introduction: Fall‑prevention typically targets older adults, but midlife may be a crucial window for early intervention. Regular physical activity lowers fall risk, yet many women in midlife encounter significant barriers to staying active. Providing targeted support could help increase participation. The MRFF-funded Active Women over 50 trial (N=1000) is testing a remotely-delivered program to support physical activity participation in women aged 50+ across NSW, Australia. This report explores participant motivations for enrolling in the trial in the context of fall prevention. Method

Introduction Low physical activity among older adults contributes to reduced function and increased risk of falls. Over half of older Australians are insufficiently active. Choose to Move is a 3-month community-based physical activity support program originally developed in Canada, co-designed with older adults to enhance motivation and promote social connection. This study aims to adapt, implement, and evaluate Choose to Move in Sydney, Australia, and examine what motivates older adults to participate in such programs. Method This NHMRC-funded implementation study targets adults aged 50 years

Introduction: Multifactorial prevention interventions can reduce hospital falls, however their implementation can be challenging and inconsistent. We aimed to provide evidence to inform the design and implementation of hospital fall prevention programs reflecting the diverse needs and challenges in acute hospitals. Methods: 1) An Intervention Component Analysis (ICA) of 45 hospital falls trials in a Cochrane review update, 2) a qualitative study with 50 hospital staff and patients, and 3) an implementation feasibility study of supported implementation of tailored multicomponent fall prevention

Introduction: Older people from ethnically diverse communities are underrepresented in research, and few programs are specifically developed to address their needs. The MOVE Together: Reduce Falls program was co-designed with older Australian’s from ethnically diverse communities to increase sustained exercise to reduce falls. The program includes physiotherapy sessions, individualised home exercises, behaviour change strategies and culturally adapted education resources. This paper explores learnings from an in-progress pilot trial. Method: Sixty older people at risk of falls from Italian

Introduction: Falls and fragility fractures cost the NHS and Social Care an estimated £4bn each year and with an ageing population, these costs will continue to rise. The 2022 World falls guidelines advocate for proactive falls screening but implementation is challenging because (1) most people do not seek medical help after a non-injurious fall and (2) large-scale screening is both labour-intensive and costly. PROFFS offers a scalable digital solution by automating falls and fracture risk screening, enabling clinicians to prioritise and support those at highest risk. Method: Adults aged

Introduction: World Falls Guidelines ​(1)​ recommend that a comprehensive, multifactorial falls risk assessment be carried out for every care home resident. However, due to heterogeneity in the care home sector, evidence-based multifactorial tools do not necessarily become integrated into practice and require a multi-faceted and tailored approach built on understanding the barriers and enablers for implementation ​(2)​ To better understand the necessary skills, levers and pathways that support the adoption and spread of evidence-based practice, a scoping review was undertaken to identify

Introduction Falls are a major concern in the community due to their association with increased mortality. Anticholinergic medications are commonly prescribed in multimorbidity and are strongly associated with an increased risk of falls. This project aimed to determine whether anticholinergic burden (ACB) correlated with frequency or severity of falls and to assess whether the ACB calculator is a useful tool in assessing those at greatest risk of falls. Methods Electronic records were retrospectively reviewed for all residents of a local care centre to the GP practice Ellesmere medical centre

Introduction: Participation in Senior University programs is often viewed as a proxy for active and healthy ageing. However, the prevalence of geriatric syndromes in this specific population—particularly fall risk associated with executive decline and polypharmacy burden—remains under-characterized. This study aimed to phenotype the fall risk profile by analyzing the interplay between physical, cognitive, and extrinsic determinants in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults in Southern Portugal. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with community-dwelling individuals

Introduction: Developing serious games for geriatric rehabilitation requires bridging the gap between clinical guidelines and user engagement. This study presents a novel methodological protocol used in the co-development of an analog serious game for fall prevention in older adults. The objective was to validate a comprehensive co-design framework that integrates multidisciplinary stakeholder insights with end-user creativity through a sequential, participatory methodology, ensuring both clinical fidelity and high playability. Methods: A multi-phase qualitative exploratory study was conducted

Background: Falls are a leading cause of disability and dependency among older adults, yet their relationship with the multidimensional construct of intrinsic capacity (IC) remains underexplored. Understanding how declines in IC domains such as locomotion, cognition, vitality, and sensory function relate to falls can inform early preventive strategies aligned with the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing framework. Methods: We analysed data from 692 robust or pre-frail community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years screened under the SPICE (Screen, Prevent frailty, Inspire, Connect, Exercise / Eat) Program

Introduction: Hospital admissions from care homes are frequent, particularly among frail older adults. While many are clinically necessary, others might be avoided with timely community interventions and advanced care planning. Unplanned admissions can distress residents, disrupt continuity of care, and increase demand on acute services. The Frailty Unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital serves as the primary point of admission for this population. Understanding admission patterns and opportunities for community management is crucial to improving patient outcomes and system efficiency. Methods

Introduction Frequent falling is a major health concern for people post-stroke, with poor reactive stepping contributing to increased fall risk. Perturbation-based training (PBT) effectively improves reactive stepping, but its clinical implementation is constrained by availability and costs. This study (NL-OMON56779) investigated whether reactive step quality may also be enhanced by single-session PBT followed by five weeks of home-based training using a custom-designed exergame based on action observation with motor simulation of reactive stepping. Methods People with chronic stroke (>six

Introduction: Older adults with a history of recurrent falls present distinct characteristics that may influence future fall events. Identifying which factors are associated with subsequent falls is essential for targeted prevention. Objective: To describe fall outcomes over 12 months among older adults with a history of recurrent falls and to identify factors associated with the occurrence of falls during this period. Methods: A prospective study was conducted with 49 community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years) with a history of at least two falls in the previous year. Data included clinical

Introduction: Falls are frequent events among older adults, especially those at high risk, and can lead to injuries and functional impact. Cognitive impairment is recognized as a potential aggravating factor, but its role in the characteristics of falls is not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the profile of falls among older adults at high risk of falls, with and without cognitive impairment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 118 older adults at high risk of falls from the community, divided into a group with cognitive impairment (CIG, n