Up to one in three (3.4m) over 65s suffer a fall each year, costing the NHS an estimated £4.6 million a day, according to new research out today from Age UK.

The figures are released to mark our first National Falls Awareness Week, which runs from today until Friday (25 June) and aims to raise awareness of some simple steps people in later life can take to prevent the devastating consequences of a fall.

Falls remain a major cause of injury and death amongst the over 70s and account for more than 50 per cent of hospital admissions for accidental injury. Evidence shows that specific programmes for improving strength and balance can reduce the risk of falls by as much as 55 per cent. However, with one in five older people admitting that they cannot remember the last time they did any exercise, we're calling for more work to be done.

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “Despite costing the NHS over £4.6 million each day, adding up to £1.7 billion per year, the issue of people in later life falling over is all too often dismissed as an inevitable part of the ageing process. The reality is that there are a number of things older people can do help prevent falls, such as exercises to improve strength and balance, and more should be done to promote and support this.”

Get involved with our exercise classes

There are over 1,000 falls prevention events taking place across the UK throughout 21 - 25 June, offering a range of exercise demonstrations, classes and taster sessions for people in later life to improve strength and flexibility.

The Age UK fit as a fiddle programme also offers ideas and information on how to stay physically active during later life – visit our fit as a fiddle web pages for more details.

Learn more on pension credit at Age UK online. View original news here: “Falls In The Over 65s Cost NHS £4.6 Million A Day”

A major overhaul of the state pension system could see people having to work into their seventies.

Currently, employers can get rid of staff when they reach the age of 65, but that could be changed under Government plans to help deal with an ageing population.

From 2016, the state pension age for men is also set to rise to 66 - nearly 10 years earlier than the last Government was planning.

As the country grapples with ever-increasing life expectancy, ministers are to also raise the possibility of extending the pension age to 70.

Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said the new policies were intended to "reinvigorate retirement".

He said: "Now is absolutely the right time to live up to our responsibility to reform our outdated pension system and to take action where the previous government failed to do so."

Millions of workers who are not saving for retirement face being enrolled in company schemes unless they opt out under the plans. Just over a third of people are thought to be currently saving into a private pension.

Michelle Mitchell, Age UK's Charity Director, said: "The coalition must not make any rash decisions about the future of our pensions system. Before rushing through any increase to state pension age, the government must first reduce the health inequalities between rich and poor, and create a much fairer job market for older people. Failure to do so will force millions of older people, many of them poorer and with lower life expectancies, to work for longer or face another year trapped in unemployed limbo.

"Any review into bringing forward the state pension age increase must take into account the full impact on these workers. Clearly there are huge challenges ahead for the new government but now is the time to renew the fight against pensioner poverty and commit to eradicating it once and for all."

Learn more on pension credit at Age UK online. View original news here: “Many May Be Working Into Their 70's”

While recently released British Crime Survey (BCS) statistics suggest that crime has stabilised and in some cases even declined, it would be wise for vehicle owners to remain alert regarding vehicle security. Incidences of vandalism, theft and burglary are still high enough to be of concern.

Based on the 2008/09 BCS, vehicle related theft figures have remained stable. This has been largely attributed to the fact that newer cars are harder to steal. Over 90% of all vehicle-owning households surveyed reported that their primary vehicle had central locking, while 67% reported that it had an alarm. Of all the cars and vans reported stolen during this period, only 64% had central locking and 40% had an alarm. 

Since 2007 the Home Office has collected data about instances of vehicle theft occurring during burglaries. These are generally referred to as ‘car key’ burglaries. Overall, 7% of home burglaries in the latest survey involved the theft of a vehicle, compared to 6% as reported in the previous report released in 2007/08. Car keys were stolen in 9% of burglaries, even if the vehicle wasn’t taken at the same time.  

Between 2007/08 and 2008/09 a decrease in the number of vehicle related offences was recorded by the police. The report revealed that motor vehicle theft declined by 14%. The most common types of car theft involve forced ignition, vehicles being towed and thieves using car keys to gain access to the vehicle.

Extra security devices can lower car insurance premiums, as protected vehicles pose a lower risk. In addition such vehicles are less likely to be stolen, and therefore less likely to result in the inconvenience of a claim.

About Prudential Insurance

Prudential is a leading UK provider of affordable car insurance policies. Their motor insurance policies offer protection against fire, theft and third party claims. Visit http://www.pru.co.uk/insurance_protection/car_insurance/ for more information or a free car insurance quote today.