In order to determine if someone has a fear of falling, obviously the senior can be asked (are you afraid of falling?). But this does not give the therapist much information.

Recall the definition presented earlier: Fear of falling is a lasting concern about falling that can lead to an individual avoiding activities that he/she remains capable of performing.

To determine if the individual is at risk for avoiding activities that he/she is capable of performing, it is necessary to assess further and then make a clinical judgment.

- There is a formal or informal assessment of the senior’s personal abilities. (abilities such as strength and balance, cognitive abilities, safety awareness)

- Also there is an assessment of the senior’s activity performance.