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

Aim: To formulate strategic recommendations for enhancing the implementation of the World Falls Guidelines among community-dwelling older adults and improve falls prevention efforts across Europe. Findings: Effective fall prevention policies require a comprehensive multifaceted approach, which includes the integration of falls prevention strategies into broader healthcare policies, public health messaging and the development of a comprehensive curriculum in healthcare education. Design and delivery of services should include community participation involving older adults with lived falls experience and the application of implementation science. Establishing a standardized, locally adaptable European toolkit for falls prevention plans along with tailored implementation tactics, could effectively address barriers to the successful implementation. Message: A collaborative commitment of relevant stakeholders to European initiatives—such as developing a standardized falls prevention strategy, promoting evidence-based implementation plans, establishing a European-wide research agenda, and creating an under- and postgraduate curriculum—is essential for advancing falls prevention efforts across Europe.