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”