Self assessment checklists

Research has identified a number of causes that increase the risk of falling for seniors. These causes, or risk factors, include underlying health issues related to the individual, such as poor balance and poor vision (intrinsic factors), and hazards in the person's home or in the wider community (extrinsic factors). The greater the number of risk factors (causes) present, the higher the risk of falling.

Self assessment checklists have been developed to help seniors identify which individual health related risk factors apply to them so they can take further action. Self assessment checklists help seniors focus on the information most relevant to them. Self assessment checklists are described below.

Checklists to identify home hazards that increase the risk of falling have also been developed, and should be considered at the same time as undertaking a risk assessment checklist. See environmental checklists for distribution to seniors

Research has shown that reducing the number of risk factors present reduces the risk of falling.

• Am I at risk of falls? - quick quiz

• How safe are you from falling?

• Falls are preventable

• Step safely: some simple steps to help prevent falls