All About Falls: Why They Happen, Predicting Them, and What to Do

This week I've created three short videos that will show you why falls happen, how to predict them, and how to manage a fall so neither you nor your loved one is injured.

Author

Ben Couch
February 26, 2026

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Understanding and Managing Falls: a Trilogy

The newsletter is arriving a little later than usual this week because I’m trying a different format this time around. It took some extra time to put this together this week, but I've created three short videos on falls that will tell you:

  1. Why humans fall: there are certain musculoskeletal conditions that must be met for us to fall down. This video goes back to my martial arts background to look at what has to happen for people to lose their balance. In martial arts, we try to create these circumstances so we can throw people. In healthcare, we try to prevent them so people stay upright.

  2. Predicting falls: when we understand why falls happen (video 1), we can start to predict them and head them off at the pass before they manifest.

  3. Assisting falls: when a fall does happen, our instinct is to try to catch a falling person and that results in injuries to caregivers and loved ones both. This is what you can do instead.

Tell me what you think!

There’s a poll beneath the videos. Please let me know what you think of this format. Are the videos helpful and interesting? Do they present new knowledge in an entertaining and useful way? Your input makes a big difference in how I plan newsletters going forward!

#1: Why Bipeds Fall

After training in martial arts for about 30 years, I met a teacher who gave me the information in this video on what conditions have to exist in order for humans to fall down. In the 10 years since that explanation, I've tested what he told me thousands of times with training partners and students, and it has never failed me.

Understanding why we fall is the first step in preventing falls for our loved ones.

streamable.com/639fob?loop=0

#2: Predicting Falls

Once we understand why people fall down—see video #1 above—we can use that understanding to see when falls are likely to occur. Watch this video to gain a better understanding of how to spot and prevent an impending fall and possible injury.

streamable.com/kxiq41?loop=0

#3: Assisted Falling

When someone falls, our instinct is to try to catch them. This reaction causes untold numbers of caregiver injuries every year. I recently heard of a professional caregiver who made this mistake and ended up with a $100,000 bicep tear.

However, there is a way to protect a falling person and yourself at the same time. This video will show you how.

streamable.com/dtz52d?loop=0

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About the author

Ben Couch, author

I’ve been a dementia professional for over 20 years, but the fight against this disease has become much more personal for me as I am engaged in my mother’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. I started The Dementia Newsletter as well as it’s parent company, elumenEd, to help caregivers — specifically home and family caregivers — gain access to the very best training and information available at an affordable price.

SOME OF THE LINKS IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE AFFILIATE LINKS, WHICH MEANS WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION IF YOU CLICK AND MAKE A PURCHASE, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU. WE ONLY RECOMMEND PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WE TRUST.

At The Dementia Newsletter, we’re dementia professionals but we’re not medical doctors or lawyers. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for medical diagnosis, treatment, or any health-related concerns and consult with a lawyer regarding any legal matters.

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