Having the right support in place can cut the number of avoidable falls in the home by over two-thirds (69%), new research has revealed.

The study of 161 tenants in houses, general-needs flats, bungalows and sheltered scheme flats was carried out by Trent & Dove Housing Association and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) between September 2022 and May 2023.

Jules Robinson, fall prevention lead at RoSPA and former Trent & Dove employee, said:

“There are approximately 1,500 housing associations in the UK with a reach of 4.4 million households, so we urge all of those to act and as a starting point, implement fall RoSPA’s Fall Fighters which is free.

“While housing associations can understand the benefits of putting fall prevention at the heart of their strategies, it can seem like a costly exercise. But there is a strong business case to do so – by assessing tenant needs, they may be able to transition to a smaller, more suitable home, and by receiving lifestyle and safety advice, they’re better prepared to look after themselves and the property.”

Over half (55%) of the tenants visited by a Trent & Dove customer health and safety advisor (CHSA) had suffered a fall in the 12 months before their home visit, more than the NICE annual national averages. Of the tenants, 60% were reliant on a mobility aid including sticks, scooters, walkers and crutches.

During visits, the CHSA conducted fall focused home safety checks, introduced tenants to RoSPA’s Fall Fighter material and gave tailored home safety advice.

After the visit, 90% said they knew more about fall prevention, 91% felt safer at home, 74% took action to avoid a fall at home and 73% felt less likely to have a fall at home. In addition, 69% of those in the pilot study experienced a reduction in avoidable falls.

Anna Hickman, head of health and safety at Trent & Dove, said: “We are buoyed by our research that shows that we can make a difference to tenants’ lives by reducing avoidable falls through taking relatively simple measures to ensure they feel safe and confident in their own homes.

“Until now there has been relatively little data for those in the housing sector about falls in the home, so we hope our work paves the way for other housing associations that are passionate about saving and improving lives.”

To explore falls related resources and learn more about RoSPA’s Fall Fighter training, please see here.