For Health Professionals
Working with Medical Professionals
Information for GPs, physiotherapists, social prescribers and other health professionals referring patients to StayActive4Life.
The Evidence
Why Physical Activity Matters
Regular strength and balance activity is one of the most effective interventions for reducing frailty and preventing falls in older adults. The UK Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines recommend that older adults undertake activities to improve strength, balance and flexibility on at least two days a week, alongside regular aerobic activity.
Our instructors are trained in Otago and FaME (Falls Management Exercise) — two of the best-evidenced approaches to falls-prevention exercise for older adults. Otago has been shown to reduce the risk of falling by around 35% (Campbell et al., 1997), and FaME — a class-based model close to what we offer — shows similarly strong results: Public Health England’s own modelling shows both approaches return over £2 in benefit for every £1 spent once the wider benefits to quality of life are counted.
Full Evidence & Citations
For colleagues who want the primary sources behind our approach:
Falls prevention overall (Cochrane review)
Sherrington et al. (2019), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — a review of 108 randomised controlled trials found exercise reduces the rate of falls in community-dwelling older people by around 23% overall, with balance-and-functional-training-based programmes among the most effective single components.
Otago Exercise Programme
Campbell et al. (1997), BMJ — an individually tailored, progressive home-based strength and balance programme, shown to reduce falls in older adults by around 35%.
FaME (Falls Management Exercise)
Skelton et al. (2005) is the original FaME trial. Public Health England’s own Return on Investment modelling indicates both Otago and FaME return over £2 in benefit for every £1 spent once the wider quality-of-life gains are counted — broadly comparable outcomes delivered through different delivery models (one-to-one home-based versus class-based).
NICE guidance (NG249)
NICE’s guideline on falls in older people recommends multifactorial risk assessment and referral to evidence-based, group-based exercise programmes that are progressive and individualised for people at risk of falling.
UK Chief Medical Officers' guidelines
Adults aged 65 and over should aim for activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility on at least two days a week, alongside at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity.
Programme quality markers
Public Health England, with the British Geriatrics Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Nursing and Royal Osteoporosis Society, defines seven quality markers for falls-prevention exercise programmes — clear referral pathways, individualised progressive delivery, and outcome tracking with tools such as Timed Up and Go and the 30-second chair-rise test among them. See our Falls Prevention guide for the full list.
Referrals
Referral Pathways
GPs, physiotherapists, social prescribers and other health professionals can refer patients to our Strength & Balance Falls Prevention Programme directly. Patients can also self-refer by contacting us — no professional referral is required to attend.
Ealing
£35 for 7 sessions, in partnership with Ealing Public Health. Refer by emailing strength.balance@nhs.net, or via SystmOne or the Joy App. GPs can also use this alternative link if preferred. Delivered in accordance with NICE guidance and the Otago programme.
Hillingdon
Commissioned by Hillingdon Council as part of the borough’s Falls Prevention Programme, over a 12-week course. Refer online using our Hillingdon referral form.
This is a general guide to suitability, not exhaustive — full criteria are set out in our referral form.
Generally suitable when
- Independently mobile, with or without a walking aid
- Able to stand up from a chair unaided
- Able to take part in and follow instructions in a group setting
- Willing to commit to attending the full programme
Needs further review when
- Unmanaged or unexplained pain
- Unexplained blackouts, dizziness, or chest pain associated with falls
- Uncontrolled or unstable cardiac conditions or blood pressure
- Significant uncontrolled dizziness (vestibular disturbance)
- Visual or hearing impairment that would make a group setting unsafe
- Cognitive impairment preventing understanding of simple instructions
Assessment
Falls Risk Assessment (FRAT)
Our referral process includes a Falls Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT), covering five factors: a fall in the last 12 months, taking four or more medications a day, a history of Parkinson’s disease or stroke, unsteadiness or balance problems, and difficulty rising from a chair. This gives a low, medium or high falls-risk score to help guide suitability for the programme.
Our Classes
Classes We Deliver
Strength & Balance
Designed to help prevent falls, improve leg and core strength, and build confidence in everyday movement.
Forever Fit
Launching Soon
A functional-fitness class combining strength, core work, dynamic balance and low-impact cardio — the natural next step after Strength & Balance.
Qigong and Tai Chi for Health & Fall Prevention
Gentle, flowing movement and breathwork to improve balance, posture and coordination.
Zumba Gold
A low-impact Latin dance-fitness class for general fitness, coordination and mood.
All venues are step-free and accessible.
Partnerships
Who We Work With
We work in partnership with Ealing Public Health and Hillingdon Council to deliver subsidised Strength & Balance programmes, alongside Hillingdon’s Primary Care Networks and social prescribing link workers. We’re also connected with local voluntary and community organisations, including Age UK Ealing, Age UK Hillingdon and Ealing and Hounslow CVS, and run classes across accessible community venues in both boroughs.
Outcomes
Outcomes & Impact
We maintain attendance records for our classes and gather ongoing feedback from participants. As part of our commissioned Falls Prevention Programme, we also report to Hillingdon Council. We’re happy to discuss outcomes directly with referring professionals or partner organisations — please get in touch. For the public health context behind our programmes, see how we help deliver the Ealing and Hillingdon Joint Strategic Needs Assessment objectives.
Resources
Resources for Professionals
Referral forms are managed within SystmOne and the Joy App, and our Ealing referral form includes a FRAT score as standard. A copy of our patient information leaflet and an example referral form are available to download below, along with how our own programmes help deliver each borough’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) objectives.
Refer a Patient
Refer a Patient Today
If you think a patient would benefit from our Strength & Balance Falls Prevention Programme, get in touch and we’ll help arrange their first session.
Referring a patient or client? Our Recovery & Referrer Hub brings together suitability guidance, the evidence base and next steps in one place.