Falls prevention in community-dwelling older adults and implementation of world falls guidelines: a call for action across Europe by the European Geriatric Medicine Society Special Interest Group on Falls and Fractures

Abstract

Falls among older adults represent a significant public health challenge due to their consequences, including serious injuries, increased morbidity and mortality, decreased quality of life, and heightened healthcare costs. The World Falls Guidelines (WFG), published in 2022, offer a robust framework for evidence-based interventions; however, the uptake of these guidelines into clinical practice across Europe remains inconsistent. Key barriers to implementation include insufficient resources, a lack of trained healthcare professionals, and limited integration into existing healthcare systems. This position paper by the EuGMS Special Interest Group (SIG) on Falls and Fractures addresses the implementation of the WFG among community-dwelling older adults and falls prevention across Europe by providing an overview of the current status of WFG adoption in Europe and discusses the challenges and opportunities for implementation. We provide an overview of the current resources to support the clinical practice of falls prevention, implementation guides, and educational programs. Additionally, we discuss what is necessary for the future development of these resources and for advancing research. The EuGMS SIG on Falls and Fractures advocates for a commitment of healthcare providers as well as insurers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to collaborative European initiatives—such as developing a standardised falls prevention strategy, promoting evidence-based implementation plans, establishing a European-wide research agenda, and creating under- and postgraduate curricula—which are essential for advancing falls prevention efforts across Europe