A positive mindset helps older people after a fall, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The authors from Imperial College London and Coventry University emphasise how psychological factors impact post-fall recovery.
Falls in elderly people can be extremely serious and can lead to physical disability and hospitalisation, as well as affecting people’s ability to live independently. In addition, falls in older adults cost the NHS around £5 million a day. However, not every older adult who falls experiences this physical decline, so the team wanted to understand what factors are involved and how these can help with therapies and interventions.
The study assessed data from nearly 700 patients across England between the ages of 60 and 90 who had suffered a fall in the previous year. The team surveyed the participants to assess their mindset and beliefs about ageing. They also analysed records about their recovery after the fall, including measurements of post-fall walking speed, whether assistance was needed for daily living activities, and how physically inactive the person was after their fall.
The results showed that participants with a positive perception about ageing were less likely to experience physical problems or need help after a fall. In contrast, those with a more negative outlook were more likely to be hospitalised and need help. The researchers found that the highest positive mindset had 162% lower odds of showing slow gait speed, 200% lower odds of being dependent on others to perform daily living activities, and 123% lower odds of physical inactivity following a fall, compared to the participant with the least positive mindset. The results were independent of other factors such as age, gender, pre-fall condition, and severity of the fall.
“Those who expressed more positive feelings about their own ageing seemed to be protected against worse physical consequences after a fall. There was substantial difference in the rate of physical recovery in the people we studied, and this seemed to be linked to their initial beliefs about growing older,” said Dr Toby Ellmers of Imperial College London’s Department of Brain Sciences.
“Although we knew from previous research that negative mindsets and beliefs about ageing are associated with increased risk of negative health outcomes, such as stroke and mortality, this is the first research linking these specifically to physical recovery after a fall,” said Dr. Mathew Hill of Coventry University’s Research Centre for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences.
“Our results suggest that changing the way that some older people view their ageing process could play a key role in improving recovery and wellbeing. It’s even possible that simple ‘tweaks’ to help people develop a more positive mindset around ageing – such as having discussions with a friend or relative about the positives associated with ageing – could help. This is something we are very keen to explore in future research,” concluded Dr Ellmers.
Hill MW, Kal E, Lord SR, Wright H, Broom D, Ellmers TJ. Self-Perceptions of Aging Predict Recovery After a Fall: Prospective Analysis From the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19486