Step out with confidence.

The investigation found that falls were generally known to be a problem among those aged 65 or older. However, there was considerable variation in the way that the problem was acknowledged by people in this age group. Typically, those more accepting of the personal risk of falling had already fallen or had experienced aged-related health problems that significantly affected their lifestyle. Having had a fall was found to be the most likely incident to trigger acceptance of personal risk: ‘It has happened and it could happen again.’ Older people who did not identify themselves as being ‘old’, and who had a more active lifestyle, tended to minimise their personal risk of falls and the relevance of falls prevention measures: ‘It won’t happen to me.’