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Sign in or register for an accountA fall is defined as an event which results in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or floor or other lower level. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), around a third of people aged 65 and over, and around a half of people aged 80 and over, fall at least once a year. Falls can be life-changing, costing people their health and independence. They are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people, and have significant impact on health and wellbeing outcomes including:
Furthermore, according to the Worldwide Health Organisation (WHO), falls are the second leading cause of death resulting from unintentional injuries in people aged 65+ worldwide.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) guidance Falls: applying All Our Health reports that the total annual cost of fragility fractures to the UK has been estimated at £4.4 billion which includes £1.1 billion for social care; hip fractures account for around £2 billion of this sum.
Rates of emergency hospital admissions due to accidental falls in people aged 65+ in Salford has been worse than the England level for more than a decade (from 2010/11 to 2023/24): after accounting for age, data from 2023/24 showed that the rate in Salford (2,663 per 100,000 people) was 34% higher the England average (1,984 per 100,000), 28% higher than the North West rate of 2,088 per 100,000, and 18% higher than in Greater Manchester (2,248 per 100,000).
Salford has seen an improvement in the rate of hospital admissions due to falls over the last decade. However, the local rate remains significantly higher than the Greater Manchester and national rate.
[Download the emergency hospital admissions data, csv format, 2kb]
The chart above shows that there has been on average some improvements in the admission rate, particularly since 2015/16, when the gaps to England and Greater Manchester have been gradually closing. However, rates remain significantly higher than both comparators.
Based on published data from 2023/24, Salford residents aged 80 years and over are around five times more likely to have a fall-related hospital admission than those aged 65 to 79 years. That ratio is similar to the Greater Manchester and England picture. There are also inequalities in gender-related falls, with females aged 65 years and over experiencing around 21% higher emergency hospital admission rates than males.
Other individuals who are most affected include residents living in the most deprived areas. Nationally, there is significantly higher rate for older people living in the most deprived local authority areas.
A related indicator measures emergency admissions for hip fractures in the over-65 population, for the five-year period ending in 2020/21. Five of Salford’s wards have admission rates significantly higher than England, with the highest, Broughton, almost double the national average but this could be impacted by accommodation tailored to older people in the area, including care homes. The other higher wards are Ordsall, Eccles, Little Hulton and Claremont. None of Salford’s wards are significantly lower than England. Quays ward has insufficient numbers to calculate a reliable rate.
Salford wards have a wide range of levels of hospital admissions for hip fractures, with the highest rate in Broughton ward.
[Download the emergency hospital admissions map data, csv format, 1kb]
Primary Prevention focuses on reducing risk factors and encouraging behaviour changes through lifestyle improvements, such as increasing physical activity, adopting a healthy diet, and enhancing strength, balance in older adults through simple daily exercises (Adobe PDF format) or simple activities like walking and dancing.
Secondary Prevention involves identifying individuals who are at risk of falling or have already experienced a fall. It includes offering low level support, such as fall pendants, smalls aids and adaptations within the home to reduce the likelihood of future falls. Additional support may involve a home hazard assessment, safety interventions, and strength and balance exercise programs.
Tertiary Prevention to support those who have already experienced significant consequences or injuries due to falls, with a focus on rehabilitation and ongoing support to maintain their health and reduce the risk of future adverse conditions.
Age Friendly Salford is a partnership that supports residents in leading healthy, active lives by raising awareness and providing activities like Walk and Talk sessions in parks and Brew and Chat gatherings. The partnership also assesses local organisations, businesses, community venues, outdoor spaces, and public transport against Age Friendly standards to create environments that are welcoming, responsive, and supportive of older adults' needs and wellbeing.