Specialist Home Rehabilitation
Falls Prevention Physiotherapy & OT at Home
Falls prevention physio at home is one of the most effective ways to reduce fall risk in older adults. Whether you need support yourself or are worried about someone close to you, our HCPC-registered physiotherapists and occupational therapists assess both physical ability and the safety of the home — then create a practical plan to support safer movement.
How We Reduce Fall Risk
Strength & Balance Training
Evidence-based Otago programme
Gait Re-education
Correcting shuffling and unsteady walking
Floor Recovery Training
Safe techniques to get up after a fall
Home Hazard Audit
Trip risks, lighting, and safety checks
Equipment Advice
Grab rails, perching stools, and more
Why Do Older Adults Fall?
Falls rarely happen for a single reason. They're usually the result of several factors combining: weaker legs, poorer balance, medication side effects, low blood pressure on standing, reduced eyesight, and hazards around the home. One in three adults over 65 falls each year, and once someone has fallen, the risk of falling again doubles.
What often gets overlooked is the psychological impact. After a fall — or even a near-miss — many older adults develop a fear of falling that makes them move less. Less movement leads to further weakness and deconditioning, which increases fall risk even more. This is sometimes called the "falls cycle," and breaking it requires addressing both the physical and environmental causes together.
If you or someone close to you is "furniture surfing" (holding onto walls and chairs to get around), hesitating on stairs, shuffling, or feeling unsteady, these are warning signs that a falls risk assessment at home could help — before a serious injury occurs.
How Our Team Helps with Falls Prevention at Home
Our physiotherapists focus on the physical causes of falling, while our occupational therapists take a holistic view of the home environment, daily routines, and the specific barriers to moving safely. Together, we address the full picture to reduce fall risk effectively.
Physiotherapy
Targeting muscle weakness, poor balance, unsteady gait, and reduced confidence through evidence-based strength and balance training.
- Otago Exercise Programme — Clinically proven strength and balance programme shown to reduce falls by up to 35%, progressed as the person gets stronger.
- Balance Retraining — Targeted exercises that retrain the body's balance reactions, helping recover from trips and stumbles before they become falls.
- Gait Re-education — Correcting shuffling habits, improving step height and stride length, and rebuilding a confident, safe walking pattern.
- Floor Recovery Training — Teaching safe techniques (including "backward chaining") to get up from the floor, dramatically reducing fear and anxiety.
- Confidence Building — Gradually increasing walking distance and activity levels so the person trusts their body again, rather than avoiding movement.
Occupational Therapy
Assessing how the home environment — furniture layout, room setup, lighting, and daily habits — either supports or undermines independence, then identifying the specific barriers to safe movement and problem-solving practical ways to overcome them.
- Home Environment Assessment — A thorough, room-by-room assessment of how the home is set up — not just obvious trip risks like loose rugs and trailing cables, but furniture positioning, walkway widths, and whether the layout of each room enables or hinders safe, independent movement.
- Lighting & Vision Assessment — Identifying danger zones like dim hallways, bathroom paths at night, and poorly lit stairways where simple changes make a big difference.
- Equipment & Furniture Assessment — Evaluating chair height and firmness, bed access, and bathroom setup alongside recommendations for grab rails, perching stools, and raised toilet seats — practical changes that reduce fall risk while keeping the home familiar and personal.
- Safe Habits & Barrier Identification — Watching how the person actually performs daily tasks — carrying tea, answering the door, getting out of bed — to identify the specific barriers that put them at risk, then finding practical solutions so they can continue doing these things safely and independently.
- Confidence & Anxiety Support — Helping the person manage the anxiety and loss of confidence that follows a fall or near-miss, gradually rebuilding belief in their ability to move safely — because emotional resilience is just as important as physical strength in preventing falls.
Why Falls Prevention Works Best at Home
You cannot effectively prevent falls in a clinic. A person might walk perfectly on a smooth clinic floor and struggle on their own thick carpet. They may manage well in a brightly lit assessment room but trip in their dim hallway every evening.
By visiting at home, we see the real picture. We observe exactly which chair the person struggles to stand from, how the furniture layout helps or hinders movement through each room, and where the lighting is too dim. Our physiotherapist tests balance on the surfaces used every day. Our occupational therapist assesses the whole environment — not just for hazards, but for how the setup of each space either enables or limits safe, independent movement.
This means every recommendation is practical and specific — not theoretical. Because exercises are practised in the space where the person lives, improvements transfer directly to daily life.
What to Expect from a Falls Assessment
Initial Assessment
Your physiotherapist or OT visits at home (60-90 minutes). The physio assesses balance, leg strength, walking pattern, and coordination. The OT assesses trip hazards, lighting, bathroom safety, and daily habits.
Treatment Plan
Based on the assessment, we create a tailored programme combining strength and balance exercises with any recommended home modifications. We explain everything clearly to the patient and anyone supporting them.
Ongoing Sessions
Follow-up visits are typically weekly or fortnightly. We progress exercises as strength improves and check that environmental changes have been implemented. Most families notice meaningful improvements within 6-8 weeks.
Communication
We keep you informed throughout, with updates after every session. If we identify issues outside our scope (such as medication reviews or eyesight concerns), we'll recommend the appropriate next steps.
Falls Prevention Home Visit Pricing
Falls prevention physiotherapy and occupational therapy from £60 per home visit. The initial assessment (£120, 60-90 minutes) includes a full physical and environmental evaluation, a written report, and a personalised treatment plan. Follow-up sessions start from £60 (30 minutes). No hidden costs.
£120
Initial Assessment
60-90 minutes
£60
30-min Follow-up
30 minutes
£90
45-min Follow-up
45 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions About Falls Prevention
What is a falls assessment?
A falls assessment is a comprehensive evaluation carried out at home by a physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist. The physio assesses physical factors — balance, leg strength, walking pattern, and coordination. The OT assesses environmental factors — trip hazards, lighting, bathroom safety, and daily routines. Together, this gives us the full picture of why falls are happening, or are likely to happen, and what to do about it.
How do I know if my parent is at risk of falling?
Warning signs to watch for include “furniture surfing” (holding onto chairs and walls to walk), hesitation on stairs, shuffling feet, near-misses they brush off, or simply saying they feel unsteady. A change in confidence — going out less, avoiding the stairs, or being reluctant to walk unaided — is also a strong indicator. If any of these sound familiar, a home falls risk assessment can identify the specific causes before an injury occurs.
Can the risk of falling be completely removed?
No intervention can eliminate all risk. However, research shows that targeted physiotherapy — particularly the Otago Exercise Programme — can reduce fall risk by up to 35% in older adults. Combined with home modifications from an occupational therapist, most families see a significant reduction in falls and near-misses, along with improved confidence and independence.
Will my parent need to make expensive changes to their home?
Rarely. We prioritise practical, low-cost solutions first. Safety often improves dramatically just by rearranging furniture, fitting brighter bulbs, securing rugs, or removing clutter. If equipment like grab rails or a perching stool would help, we explain exactly what’s needed and where to get it — but the decision is always yours.
Which areas do you cover?
We provide home visits across Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire. This includes Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, Salisbury, Ringwood, and the surrounding towns and villages.
Helpful Guides for Families
Practical advice to help you understand and reduce fall risk for an elderly relative.
Your Parent Has Had a Fall — What Happens Next?
What to do immediately after a fall, when to go to A&E, and how to start recovery.
How to Reduce the Risk of Falls at Home
A comprehensive room-by-room guide to making your parent's home safer.
Home Exercises for Elderly Mobility
Safe, evidence-based exercises to improve balance and strength at home.
Related Conditions We Treat at Home
Elderly Rehabilitation & Mobility
Rebuilding strength and confidence for older adults with general weakness or frailty.
Dizziness & Vertigo
Vestibular physiotherapy for BPPV, labyrinthitis, and balance problems that increase fall risk.
Dementia Care
Specialist physio and OT to maintain mobility and improve home safety for those living with dementia.
Hospital Discharge Rehabilitation
Rapid-response rehab after a hospital admission to prevent falls during recovery.
Home Adaptations & Safety
Full OT home safety assessments and equipment recommendations.
Book a Falls Assessment at Home
Don't wait for a serious fall to act. Contact us today to arrange a home falls assessment with one of our HCPC-registered physiotherapists or occupational therapists. We'll assess mobility and home safety, then create a practical plan to reduce risk.