Overview

• Research involving 694 adults aged 60–90 in England found that positive ageing mindsets were strongly associated with better post-fall recovery outcomes.
• Participants with the most positive self-perceptions of ageing had 162% lower odds of slow walking speed and 200% lower odds of needing assistance with daily activities after a fall.
• The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, controlled for variables such as age, gender, depression, and pre-fall physical function to ensure robust findings.
• Researchers suggest simple psychological interventions, like reframing ageing narratives, could enhance recovery and overall wellbeing in older adults.
• Falls among older adults cost the NHS an estimated £5 million daily, highlighting the public health and economic significance of improving recovery outcomes.