A Tiered Community-to-Clinic Framework for Fall Risk Assessment in Older Adults: Adapting Prevention Strategies for Resource-Constrained Settings

Falls among older adults represent one of the most pressing challenges in global public health. Worldwide, approximately 684,000 fatal falls occur each year, making falls the second leading cause of unintentional injury death globally.1 Among adults aged 65 years and older, falls occur in over 30% annually, rising to 40% in those aged 85 years and above, with approximately 10% resulting in serious injuries, including hip fractures, traumatic brain injury, and subdural hematoma, rendering falls the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization and a major driver of functional decline, institutionalization, and health care expenditure in this age group.