Risk check
Fall risk check: am I at risk of falling?
About 1 in 4 people 65 and older falls each year. This 12-statement checklist from the CDC shows whether you may be at higher risk, and which of your answers point to something you can work on.
Tick each statement that is true for you
Made for adults 65 and older. Nothing you enter leaves this page.
What you will see
Your score out of 14, whether it reaches the CDC cut-off of 4 points, and what each of your answers can mean.
Educational only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your result.
Source
CDC STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) Stay Independent brochure, 2017. The checklist was developed by the Greater Los Angeles VA Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center and validated by Rubenstein and colleagues in 2011.
Validated in
Adults 65 and older living at home.
Limits
It is a self-check, not a clinical fall risk assessment. It does not test your balance, strength, eyesight or blood pressure, which your doctor can do. A low score does not mean you cannot fall.
How the score works
Each "yes" adds points. The first two statements count 2 points, the other ten 1 point each, for a maximum of 14. A total of 4 or more means you may be at risk for falling, and the CDC suggests discussing the result with your doctor (CDC STEADI).
| Statement | Points for "yes" |
|---|---|
| I have fallen in the past year. | 2 |
| I use or have been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely. | 2 |
| Sometimes I feel unsteady when I am walking. | 1 |
| I steady myself by holding onto furniture when walking at home. | 1 |
| I am worried about falling. | 1 |
| I need to push with my hands to stand up from a chair. | 1 |
| I have some trouble stepping up onto a curb. | 1 |
| I often have to rush to the toilet. | 1 |
| I have lost some feeling in my feet. | 1 |
| I take medicine that sometimes makes me feel light-headed or more tired than usual. | 1 |
| I take medicine to help me sleep or improve my mood. | 1 |
| I often feel sad or depressed. | 1 |
So one fall in the past year plus one more "yes", or any four of the 1-point statements, reaches the cut-off.
Why each question is there
Each statement stands for a known reason people fall (CDC STEADI):
- A past fall: people who have fallen once are likely to fall again.
- Balance: needing a cane or walker, feeling unsteady, or holding onto furniture at home.
- Leg strength: pushing up with your hands to stand, or trouble stepping onto a curb.
- Fear of falling: people who are worried about falling are more likely to fall.
- Rushing to the toilet: especially at night.
- Numb feet: loss of feeling causes stumbles.
- Medicines: those that cause light-headedness or tiredness, and those for sleep or mood.
- Low mood: symptoms of depression, such as feeling slowed down, are linked to falls.
Is the checklist accurate?
Its authors compared it with a full clinical fall risk evaluation, based on American and British Geriatrics Society guidelines, in 40 adults 65 and older. Agreement was strong (kappa 0.875). One item about eyesight was dropped because it did not agree well with the exam (Rubenstein 2011). The study was small, and the authors called for a larger one that follows people over time to see how well the score predicts actual falls.
Four things you can do
Whatever your score, the CDC lists four steps to prevent falls (CDC STEADI):
- Speak up. Talk to your doctor about falls, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines.
- Keep moving. Start exercise that builds leg strength and balance.
- Get a yearly eye exam, and update your glasses as needed.
- Make your home safer. Clear clutter and tripping hazards.
Common questions
What fall risk score is high?
On this checklist, 4 points or more out of 14 means you may be at risk for falling (CDC STEADI).
How common are falls?
About 1 in 4 people 65 and older falls each year (CDC STEADI).
I scored under 4. Can I still fall?
Yes. The score is a screen, not a promise. If you fall, feel unsteady or start a new medicine, tell your doctor and take the check again.
Also see the osteoporosis screening check, since weak bones make a fall more likely to break one, and the blood pressure by age guide. For adults 50 and older, the hearing loss screening check covers another common age-related change.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries). Stay Independent brochure: Check Your Risk for Falling. 2017. web.archive.org/web/2019/https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/patient/customizable/StayIndependent-Final-Customizable-508.pdf
- Rubenstein LZ, Vivrette R, Harker JO, Stevens JA, Kramer BJ. Validating an evidence-based, self-rated fall risk questionnaire (FRQ) for older adults. J Safety Res. 2011;42(6):493-499. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22152267/
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.