Elderly man doing guided balance and strength exercises with a caregiver at home as part of a falls prevention programme

Evidence-Based Falls Prevention

Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy

Address fall risk factors with personalised occupational therapy. Our qualified OTs assess your home, strength, and daily routines to create a tailored falls prevention plan, delivered in your own home across QLD, NSW, VIC, and TAS.

Book a Falls Prevention AssessmentCall (07) 3477 9366
Senior adult in a bathroom demonstrating safe independent movement and home safety for falls prevention

Why Choose ASTRAD for Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy?

Mobile OT Services Across Australia

Falls are a leading cause of injury hospitalisation for Australians aged 65 and over, with more than 238,000 admissions recorded in 2022-23 (AIHW, 2023). At ASTRAD, our occupational therapists come to you, assessing fall risks in the environment where they actually occur. We combine home hazard identification, strength and balance training, and assistive equipment recommendations into an evidence-based falls prevention programme tailored to your needs.

How Our Falls Prevention Programme Works

Our occupational therapists use a structured, multi-factorial approach to falls prevention that addresses the physical, environmental, and behavioural factors contributing to your fall risk.

Healthcare professional consulting with an elderly man at home, taking notes during a falls prevention risk assessment
  • 1

    Step 1: Falls Risk Assessment

    Your OT visits your home to complete a structured falls risk assessment. This includes reviewing your medical history, evaluating balance, mobility, and strength, and identifying environmental hazards such as poor lighting, loose rugs, and uneven surfaces.

  • 2

    Step 2: Personalised Falls Prevention Plan

    Based on the assessment findings, your OT develops a tailored falls prevention plan. This may include home modifications (grab rails, non-slip flooring, improved lighting), exercise programmes targeting balance and lower-limb strength, and recommendations for assistive devices such as walking frames or shower chairs.

  • 3

    Step 3: Implementation, Training & Review

    Your OT supports you through every stage of implementation, from coordinating home modifications to teaching safe movement techniques and equipment use. Regular follow-up reviews ensure your plan continues to meet your needs as your circumstances change.

Falls Prevention Services

What Our Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy Covers

Our falls prevention occupational therapy addresses every factor that contributes to fall risk. Whether you need environmental modifications, physical rehabilitation, or assistive technology, our mobile OTs deliver coordinated support in your own home.

  • Balance and Strength Programmes

    Reduced balance and lower-limb strength are among the strongest predictors of falls in older adults. Our OTs design individualised exercise programmes that target these areas, incorporating activities you can practise safely at home. Research suggests multi-factorial interventions including exercise may help reduce fall risk.

    Older women participating in falls prevention balance exercise class
  • Home Environment Modifications

    Our OTs conduct detailed home safety assessments to identify hazards such as cluttered walkways, inadequate lighting, slippery flooring, and poorly positioned furniture. We recommend and coordinate modifications including grab rail installation, non-slip surfaces, threshold ramps, and improved lighting to create a safer living environment.

  • Medication and Activity Review

    Certain medications and daily activity patterns can increase fall risk. Our OTs review how your routines and medications may be contributing to instability and work with your GP and other health professionals to address these factors as part of your overall falls prevention strategy.

  • Assistive Technology and Equipment

    From walking aids and shower chairs to bed rails and sensor lighting, the right assistive equipment can help manage fall risk. Our OTs assess your needs, trial equipment options with you, and provide training on safe use. We can also assist with funding applications through NDIS, My Aged Care, DVA, and other programmes.

Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy: Reducing Fall Risk for Older Australians

Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation for Australians aged 65 and over. Falls prevention occupational therapy offers an evidence-based approach to reducing fall risk. At ASTRAD Allied Health, our qualified occupational therapists deliver mobile falls prevention services directly in your home across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Why Falls Prevention Matters

One in four Australians aged over 65 experiences at least one fall each year. Falls can result in fractures, head injuries, loss of mobility, and reduced confidence. Research suggests that targeted, multi-factorial interventions may help reduce fall risk, and home safety modifications delivered by occupational therapists may help reduce fall risk among higher-risk groups.

What Causes Falls in Older Adults?

Falls typically result from an interaction between personal, environmental, and behavioural factors. Effective falls prevention addresses all three categories.

Intrinsic Factors

  • Reduced balance and coordination
  • Lower-limb muscle weakness
  • Vision impairment
  • Chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or Parkinson’s disease
  • Medication side effects (dizziness, drowsiness, low blood pressure)

Extrinsic Factors

  • Poor lighting in hallways, stairs, and bathrooms
  • Loose rugs, mats, and uneven flooring
  • Cluttered walkways and poorly positioned furniture
  • Lack of grab rails in bathrooms and stairways
  • Ill-fitting footwear or inappropriate walking aids

Behavioural Factors

  • Rushing through daily tasks
  • Not using prescribed walking aids
  • Avoiding physical activity due to fear of falling

How ASTRAD’s Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy Works

Our falls prevention programme follows a structured, evidence-based process. Because we deliver services in your own home, we assess hazards and test solutions where falls are most likely to occur.

Step 1: Falls Risk Assessment

Your occupational therapist visits your home to review your medical history and medications, assess balance, mobility, strength, and gait, evaluate the home environment, and discuss your daily routines and any previous falls.

Step 2: Personalised Falls Prevention Plan

Based on the assessment, your OT develops a tailored plan that may include home modifications (grab rails, non-slip surfaces, improved lighting), a targeted exercise programme for balance and lower-limb strength, assistive technology recommendations, and strategies for safe movement during daily activities.

Step 3: Implementation and Ongoing Review

Your OT coordinates modifications, provides hands-on training in equipment use and safe movement techniques, and schedules follow-up visits. As your needs change, your plan is reviewed and adjusted.

Home Environment Modifications for Falls Prevention

The home is where most falls occur among older Australians. Our occupational therapists identify hazards and recommend practical modifications, including:

  • Grab rails and handrails in bathrooms, hallways, and stairways
  • Non-slip strips or mats in wet areas
  • Removal of loose rugs and trip hazards
  • Improved lighting with sensor-activated options
  • Raised toilet seats and shower chairs for bathroom safety

Balance and Strength Training for Fall Risk Reduction

Reduced balance and lower-limb strength are consistently identified as significant risk factors for falls. Our occupational therapists design home-based exercise programmes that are safe, achievable, and tailored to your current fitness level. Regular participation in targeted exercise can help reduce both the rate and risk of falls.

Funding Options for Falls Prevention OT

  • My Aged Care and CHSP: Eligible older Australians can access OT services through aged care assessment pathways.
  • Home Care Packages: Falls prevention services can be included in your plan.
  • NDIS: Participants with disability-related fall risk may access OT through their NDIS plan.
  • DVA: Veterans may be eligible for falls prevention OT and home modifications.
  • Private and Medicare: Some services may be accessed through GP referral or privately.

Who Benefits from Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy?

Falls prevention occupational therapy is suitable for older adults aged 65 and over who want to maintain independence, anyone who has experienced a recent fall or near-fall, people recovering from stroke or surgery, individuals living with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, and carers seeking guidance on supporting a loved one’s safety at home.

Why Choose ASTRAD for Falls Prevention?

ASTRAD’s occupational therapists are qualified professionals with experience in aged care, disability, and community-based rehabilitation. We deliver all falls prevention services in your own home across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Individual results vary. Falls risk reduction depends on your unique circumstances, health conditions and commitment to the recommended programme.

To book a falls prevention occupational therapy assessment, call (07) 3477 9366 or use our online booking form. Early assessment can help identify and address fall risk factors and protect your independence.

Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy FAQs

A falls prevention OT assessment includes a review of your medical history and medications, standardised balance and mobility tests, a detailed home environment inspection covering lighting, flooring, bathroom safety, and stair access, and a discussion of your daily routines and any previous falls. Your OT then uses these findings to develop a personalised falls prevention plan.

Occupational therapy reduces fall risk by addressing the physical, environmental, and behavioural factors that contribute to falls. This may include home modifications such as grab rails and improved lighting, tailored balance and strength exercises, assistive equipment recommendations, and education on safe movement strategies during daily activities.

Yes. Falls prevention OT can be funded through several programmes, including the NDIS for participants with disability-related fall risk, My Aged Care and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), Home Care Packages, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). Private and Medicare-referred options are also available. Our team can help you explore funding pathways.

ASTRAD delivers mobile falls prevention occupational therapy across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Our OTs travel to your home, so you receive assessment and intervention in the environment where falls are most likely to occur. Contact us on (07) 3477 9366 to confirm availability in your area.

The duration depends on your individual needs and goals. An initial assessment typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. Your OT will then develop a personalised plan, with follow-up sessions scheduled as needed to implement home modifications, progress your exercise programme, and review your fall risk over time.

A home assessment broadly evaluates your ability to carry out daily activities safely in your living environment. A falls prevention assessment is more targeted, focusing specifically on the intrinsic factors (balance, strength, vision, medications) and extrinsic hazards (lighting, flooring, obstacles) that increase your risk of falling. Both services may be delivered together as part of a comprehensive occupational therapy plan.

Senior receiving guided exercise from occupational therapist for falls prevention at home

Take the First Step Towards Falls Prevention

Do not wait for a fall to happen. Contact ASTRAD today to book a falls prevention occupational therapy assessment in your own home. Our qualified OTs are available across QLD, NSW, VIC, and TAS. Call (07) 3477 9366 or book online to get started.

Supporting Positive Change

Our Services in Action

Astrad occupational therapist with women lying on bed