Balance, strength and confidence

Falls prevention program at home

One in three people over 65 has a fall each year, and most falls happen at home. The good news is that balance and strength can be trained at any age. Our home-based program is built to keep you steady, upright and confident in your own house.

Enquire about a home visit Suburbs we visit

Balance and strength exercises

A program based on the best evidence for reducing falls, done three times a week at home, with a physiotherapist progressing it as you improve.

Home hazard check

A practical walk through your home looking at rugs, lighting, steps, bathroom setup and the furniture you use to steady yourself.

Footwear and foot health

The right shoes prevent falls. A podiatrist can appraise your footwear and keep your feet comfortable so you walk with confidence.

Walking aid fitting

A stick or frame set at the wrong height can cause the fall it was meant to prevent. We fit and teach the right aid.

Getting up from the floor

A rehearsed, safe method for getting up after a fall, and a plan for what to do if you cannot, so a fall does not become a long lie.

Confidence after a fall

Fear of falling leads people to move less, which makes falling more likely. We rebuild confidence step by step.

Why falls prevention works best at home

A fall is rarely about one thing. It is a mix of weaker legs, slower balance reactions, poor footwear, low lighting, a loose mat, a medication that causes dizziness, and a dozen other small factors. A clinic can assess your balance. Only a home visit can see the whole picture at once.

Our physiotherapists watch how you move around your house. Standing up from your usual chair. Turning in the kitchen. Stepping into the shower. Reaching the top cupboard. That is where the risks show themselves, and that is where the program is built.

What the program includes

Assessment. We test your balance, leg strength and walking with standard measures so we can track progress, ask about any falls and near misses, and review medications and health conditions that raise risk. If something needs your GP’s attention, we tell you.

Exercise. The core of the program is a set of balance and strength exercises proven to reduce falls when done regularly. They are simple, they use a chair or bench for support, and they are tailored to your level. The physiotherapist progresses them at each visit so they keep working.

Home safety. A walk through your home with practical, affordable suggestions. Often it is small things, a night light, a rail, moving a mat, that make the biggest difference.

Footwear and feet. Slippers and worn shoes are a common cause of falls. A podiatrist can assess your footwear and treat foot pain that changes how you walk.

What to do after a fall. We teach a safe way to get up from the floor and help you make a plan for getting help if you cannot.

Signs it is time to start

You have had a fall or a near miss in the past year. You hold onto furniture to move around the house. You have stopped doing things you used to do because you feel unsteady. You have been told your balance is poor. Family members are worried. Any one of these is reason enough.

Family and carers

Adult children often arrange this program for a parent after a fall or a scare. We welcome that. We will explain the plan to you and, with your parent’s agreement, keep you informed. We also show carers and support workers how to help with the exercises safely.

Part of the Head2Toe group

Head2Toe Home is the home-visit arm of the Head2Toe group, with clinics in Moonee Ponds, Brunswick and Kew East. Our physiotherapists and podiatrists are the same team you would see in those clinics, and your records are shared across both.

Where we offer falls prevention at home

We visit homes across Melbourne's north and inner east from our three clinics. Suburb pages explain which clinic your clinician comes from and what is local to you.

Common questions

Who is the program for?

Anyone who has had a fall, a near miss or a wobble, anyone who feels unsteady or has started avoiding activities because of it, and anyone whose family is worried. You do not need to have fallen to start.

How long does the program run?

Most people see us regularly over a few months while the program is set up and progressed, then less often as they become independent with it. The exercises themselves are meant to continue long term.

Is it safe to do balance exercises alone?

The program is designed so the exercises you do alone are safe for your level, with a bench or wall for support. Harder exercises are only progressed when your physiotherapist has seen you do them safely.

Does a home care package or the NDIS cover this?

Usually yes, as part of allied health funding. We work with your care manager or plan manager to confirm it. Private visits and Medicare care plans are also options.

Get in touch

We will call you back

Home visits are arranged by enquiry rather than online booking, so we can match the right clinician and check your funding first.

Family members and support coordinators are welcome to enquire on someone's behalf.
We explain fees and funding before anything is booked.
Prefer to talk? Call 03 9326 0168.