Falls among residents in UK care homes are commonplace. A new study examined whether multiple medications and drugs that act on the brain may contribute to the risk.

The research, which included 84 UK care homes, found that residents taking multiple medicines had an increased risk of falling. Risk was also increased with a regular prescription for antidepressants or benzodiazepines (sedative drugs).

Two-thirds of the residents in the study were living with dementia. Researchers suggest that care homes should emphasise non-drug approaches such as massage, music or art therapies. These interventions could help residents with depression and common symptoms of dementia such as agitation or sleep disturbance.

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