Prevention Could Save the UK £11bn – So Why Are Families in Leeds Still Waiting for a Fall?

Despite understanding the risks of delay, one in three carers still wait for a crisis before seeking support for older relatives.

Falls are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people, costing the NHS more than £2 billion every year¹. Broader UK research reveals that around one in three people over 65 experiences a fall each year2, with hundreds of thousands of hospital admissions recorded annually in England.

While fall prevention is widely recognised by public health experts as one of the most effective ways to reduce pressure on health and social care services, the findings show that action often comes too late.

Nearly half of families in Leeds only seek support after a fall or when everyday struggles become unavoidable, while just 10% act before any signs of difficulty appear.

Acting earlier not only protects older people from avoidable injury but could also ease pressure on already stretched NHS services. Research shows that every £1 invested in preventative social care delivers £3.17 in savings, with the potential to reduce costs by up to £11.1 billion across the UK if scaled nationwide3.

Peter Otto, CEO of Sentai, said:  "We all know prevention pays  for families and for the NHS. But our research shows the public still defaults to crisis.

"People understand the risks of waiting, yet too often support only arrives after a fall or serious health issue. Prevention is about helping people stay independent and confident in their own homes for longer.

"Sentai exists to support that shift, moving from reactive support to proactively planning and preparing for the future.”

The research highlights the contradiction at the heart of this issue. While 30 per cent of families in Leeds say delaying support increases the risk of falls and 38 per cent believe it worsens medical conditions, nearly 42 per cent admit they have never accessed any form of support for older relatives.

Behind that delay are growing concerns among families in Leeds supporting loved ones who live alone. 40 per cent say that falls are their biggest worry, closely followed by loneliness, which concerns 35 per cent of respondents.

The findings come as the UK government recently announced an additional £50 million boost to the Disabled Facilities Grant.

The funding enables councils to support home adaptations such as stairlifts, accessible bathrooms and safety improvements, helping older and disabled people remain safely in their homes while reducing pressure on hospitals and social care services.