New global review: Tailored exercise, diet and vitamin D could prevent falls in nursing homes

Australian researchers are doubling down on personalized exercise programs, improved nutrition, and vitamin D supplements as an effective trifecta approach to prevent falls in aged care homes. This recommendation is based on a review of 104 clinical trials involving nearly 69,000 elderly participants living in care facilities across 25 countries. 

Lead author Dr. Suzanne Dyer says this is the “most comprehensive study of its kind” and offers clear guidance for aged care providers, families, and policymakers.

The review found that mindfully tailoring care — especially nutrition and exercise — to each participant was the most effective approach to preventing falls when delivered with strong support from aged care staff.

“Falls are one of the most common and serious health risks facing older Australians — they can lead to broken bones, hospital stays, and a loss of independence,” says Dr. Dyer from the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI).

The researchers flag that older Australians in care generally have low vitamin D levels, which can weaken muscle strength.

“Our findings show that preventing falls isn’t about a one-size-fits-all solution, but there are some simple, easily deployed, and targeted ways to make a real difference in reducing falls,” says Dr. Jenni Suen, another author of the review.

Calls for greater focus on nutrition

The review affirms that increasing dairy servings that were high in calcium to strengthen bones resulted in fewer falls and fractures, emphasizing the importance of nutrition guidance in nursing homes.

“By adding more calcium- and protein-rich foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt, aged care homes were able to improve residents’ bone health and stability,” says Dyer.

Non-diet programs such as deprescribing or reviewing prescriptions and staff training, and changes to care models on their own didn’t consistently reduce falls.Suen adds: “One of the most effective strategies was regular, supervised exercise, which reduced falls even in residents with cognitive impairments, like dementia.”

“We found that this type of exercise, especially when done consistently and in groups or for more than an hour a week, was shown to reduce the number of falls.”

The study found that falls among assisted living participants were significantly reduced after they were offered an environmental assessment, medication review, and exercise guidance based on their individual needs, along with strong staff engagement.

“As part of our research, we wanted to see what types of programs weren’t working as effectively in preventing falls,” says Dyer.

“Programs such as improving medication use (deprescribing or reviewing prescriptions) and staff training, and changes to care models on their own didn’t consistently reduce falls.”

Focus on healthier aging interventions

Dr. Dryer believes the study offers strong evidence that some approaches work better than others.

“Tailored exercise programs, vitamin D supplements, and better nutrition can make a real difference. With the right mix of strategies, it’s possible to reduce risks and help older people in care stay safer and more independent,” she concludes.

Healthy aging was a top trend cited in The Vitamin Shoppe’s annual “Health & Wellness Trend Report.” In related product development around the trend, Novos recently unveiled its first functional bar explicitly formulated to support longevity, combining 15 g of protein, five longevity-focused ingredients, and 20 superfoods in one snack.

Meanwhile, Bonerge launched its anti-aging offering, StanYouth CR3, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with advancements in cellular science. The patented formula takes inspiration from TCM’s “senolytic-repair-chi” theory to “tackle aging at the cellular level.”