Information for the public

About this information

NICE clinical guidelines advise the NHS on caring for people with specific conditions or diseases and the treatments they should receive. The information applies to people using the NHS in England and Wales.

This information explains the advice about preventing falls in older people that is set out in NICE clinical guideline 161.

All of the treatment and care that NICE recommends is in line with the NHS Constitution (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england). NICE has also produced advice on improving the experience of care for adults using the NHS. For more information, see 'About care in the NHS' on our website (www.nice.org.uk/nhscare).

This is an update of advice on falls that NICE produced in 2004, to include advice on avoiding falls during a hospital stay.

Does this information apply to me?

Yes, if you are:

  • aged 65 or over

  • aged between 50 and 64, in hospital and been judged by a healthcare professional to be at higher risk of falling because of an underlying condition.

  • Information Standard