21 July 2012 Last updated at 03:42 ET

More help needed 'to prevent falls among elderly'

More education is needed to prevent falls among the elderly in Cornwall, a council panel has concluded.

Up to half of over-65s fell at least once a year in the county - a total of 55,000 people, it said.

In 2010-11, the cost of acute hospital admissions for a fall in Cornwall was about £10m.

A report from a group of councillors said the issue should be made a priority, with more education and home visits in the future.

'Education programme'

According to the report from the panel, last year there were about 10,000 ambulance call-outs for falls in the county.

The panel said the number of over-65s in Cornwall was set to increase by 55% by 2030.

It meant that one in four people would be 65 years old or over in 18 years time, it said.

Councillor Chris Gonninan, the chairman of the panel, said: "There's a massive education programme to be done, in my opinion.

"I think we have got to be talking to people and educating people most of the time."

Mr Gonninan said he wanted council and health partners to work together more to help prevent elderly people from suffering falls.