A comprehensive falls assessment along with a falls management plan should be offered If the person has had a fall within the past year and any of the following criteria apply:^2,5 

·      is living with frailty;

·      was injured and needed medical treatment;

·      lost consciousness or syncope is suspected;

·      was unable to get up independently after a fall;

·      sustained two or more falls in the last year.

A comprehensive falls assessment aims to identify a person’s risk factors for falling, while the falls management plan aims to address these factors. For example, this could involve a referral to a pharmacist for a medication review, to an occupational therapist for a home hazard modification, to an ophthalmologist to consider cataract surgery, or secondary care for cardiovascular, neurological, vestibular, urological etc assessments.^2,5

If the person has fallen but none of the criteria apply for a comprehensive falls assessment, the person should have their gait and balance assessed. This may result in recommendations for a falls prevention exercise programme and potentially a home hazard assessment.²

If there have been no falls, or gait or balance are not yet a concern, people should still be advised about maintaining physical activity, in line with the UK’s chief medical officers’ guidance.^2,13