How Sunderland is helping older residents to stay safely on their feet after big drop in harmful falls
Sunderland is celebrating a dramatic improvement in the rate of falls among the city’s older residents.
The city has gone from having the second highest falls rate in the country, to 75th out of 151 in 2024-25.
The improvement means that Sunderland's falls rate is now below the national average for the first time.
It comes as the city marks national Falls Prevention Week.
Falls are one of the most common causes of injury in later life, affecting around one in three adults aged over 65 and half of those aged over 80 each year. In Sunderland, it is estimated that between 35,000 and 40,000 falls occur annually.
Pradeep Chockalingam, Sunderland City Council's falls coordinator, said: “We’re so proud of the progress Sunderland has made in improving its falls rate over the last few years but we know there's still more to do, and that’s why the council’s falls prevention team will be out in communities meeting people.”
Sunderland’s success in preventing falls has been driven by initiatives including falls awareness training for more than 800 health, social care and care sector staff, specialist strength and balance exercise programmes offered to residents most at risk, awareness campaigns and close partnership working across health and social care organisations.
To help continue the progress, Sunderland City Council alongside partners North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Sunderland Multiagency Falls Group, are promoting the new Steady on Your Feet Sunderland website.
It provides free falls prevention advice, support and a personalised online self-assessment tool to help those at risk of falling better understand how to protect themselves.
As part of Falls Prevention Week and beyond, the council's Falls Prevention Team will also be visiting Digital Health Hubs across the city to help residents learn more about falls prevention and complete the online self-assessment, particularly those who may not have access to the internet in their homes.
Cllr Jonathon Emerson, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Services, said: “Sunderland's remarkable improvement in falls prevention demonstrates what can be achieved when council services, the NHS, care providers and community partners work together with a shared commitment to improving people's lives.”
Residents can find out more and complete a free falls risk self-assessment at sunderland.steadyonyourfeet.org