Falls continue to have a significant impact on older Western Australians, their families and the state’s healthcare system.
The recently released 2026 WA Falls Report highlights that a Western Australian aged 65+ dies every 18 hours, is hospitalised every 21 minutes and presents to an ED every 37 minutes due to a fall. Additionally, 1 in 4 older adults hospitalised due to a fall experience a subsequent readmission, highlighting the ongoing and often complex impacts of falls on health and wellbeing.
Older adults remain disproportionately affected by falls injuries, experiencing substantially higher rates of hospitalisations than any other age group. While the immediate consequences of a fall can be severe, the impact often extends far beyond the initial injury. Older adults can experience a decline in confidence, mobility and independence following a fall, increasing their risk of future falls and subsequent hospital admissions.
The 2026 WA Falls Report indicates that falls place a considerable burden on the health system, with many older adults requiring extended hospital stays and ongoing care following a falls injury. Repeat falls and hospital readmissions are an ongoing concern, reinforcing the importance of identifying risk factors and providing timely prevention and rehabilitation support for older adults both in hospital and in the community.
With Western Australia’s population continuing to age, the number of falls hospitalisations is expected to increase in the coming decades unless effective prevention measures are implemented. Without action, this growing demand will place further pressure on hospitals, emergency departments and community health services.
However, falls are not an inevitable part of ageing. A strong body of evidence demonstrates that falls can be prevented through initiatives such as strength and balance exercise programs, medication reviews, vision checks, home modifications and multifactorial falls risk assessments. These interventions not only help reduce falls but can also prevent avoidable hospital presentations and readmissions.
Reducing the incidence of falls requires a coordinated approach across healthcare, aged care, local government and community settings. By investing in evidence-based falls prevention initiatives, we can help older Western Australians remain active, independent and connected to the community while reducing demands on our health system.
If you are interested in building your capacity to prevent falls among older adults, be sure to engage with the range of Stay On Your Feet® training, resources and prevention initiatives available through Injury Matters.
Injury Matters developed the 2026 WA Falls Report with funding from the Department of Health WA.