The evidence is clear. Structured exercise prevents falls — and saves lives.
Better5 is grounded in a growing body of published evidence showing that structured exercise is one of the most effective interventions for fall prevention in older adults.
This isn't a minor inconvenience. Falls represent one of the largest drivers of healthcare cost and resident harm in senior living settings.
The case for exercise-based fall prevention is well-established across multiple independent research bodies. Here are three of the most relevant findings.
A University of British Columbia Okanagan study by Dr. Jennifer Davis, published in the peer-reviewed journal Maturitas, analyzed the Falls Prevention Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital. The program focused on structured strength and balance exercises delivered to adults 65 and older.
The findings: the clinic reduced falls by 36%, and the return on investment for the program ranged from 500% to 2,700% — through avoided emergency visits, hospitalizations, and long-term care admissions.
"By preventing falls before additional injuries or fractures occur in older adults who have a history of falls, the Falls Prevention Clinic not only improves quality of life but also reduces costly emergency visits, hospital stays and long-term care admissions." — Dr. Jennifer Davis, UBCO
One of the most cited bodies of evidence in fall prevention research, the Cochrane Systematic Review on interventions for preventing falls in older people found that exercise programs targeting balance and functional training reduce the rate of falls — and that the evidence for this is substantial and consistent.
Balance and functional training showed the largest effect, particularly when practiced multiple times per week. Combining balance with strength training further reduced fall risk.
The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that falls cost the Canadian healthcare system $2.8 billion per year in direct costs — making fall prevention one of the highest-ROI areas of investment in senior care. One in three adults over 65 experiences a fall each year, rising to one in two for adults over 80.
Programming that addresses balance and strength directly reduces this risk and shifts the financial burden away from acute care.
"Exercise programs targeting balance and functional training reduce the rate of falls in older people. The evidence for this is substantial and consistent."
The research is clear on what works. Here's how Better5 is structured around those findings.
The research is consistent: balance and functional training show the largest reduction in fall rates. Better5's Balance pillar is scheduled multiple times per week, building stability progressively and safely for every mobility level.
Combining balance with functional strength training further reduces fall risk. Better5 builds both into the weekly schedule — not as separate programs, but as a coordinated system the way the evidence recommends.
Regular, moderate-intensity exercise delivers better fall prevention outcomes than sporadic high-intensity sessions. Better5's 20–30 minute daily format is designed to maximize consistent participation — because showing up matters more than working hard.
Participants in group exercise programs show significantly better long-term adherence than those exercising alone. Better5 is built as a group experience — not individual on-demand content — because the social accountability and energy are part of what makes it work.
Research shows that shorter, regular sessions are more effective than long infrequent ones for older adults. All Better5 sessions run 30 minutes or less — structured to match realistic energy and attention levels while still delivering meaningful training stimulus.
The evidence supports combining multiple exercise types — balance, strength, endurance, and cognitive engagement — for broader health outcomes in older adults. Better5's 5-pillar structure is a direct application of that multimodal approach, not a single-focus program.
Better5 is working with Dr. Theodore Cosco, Associate Professor at Simon Fraser University's Department of Gerontology, on an ongoing research partnership. We're not making claims ahead of the data — but we're committed to building the evidence base alongside credible academic researchers.
Our Instructors
Better5 programming is led by kinesiologists and certified fitness professionals. Instructors across the platform hold a range of credentials in senior and therapeutic exercise — all vetted to ensure safe, appropriate programming for older adults.
The published evidence translates into real, tangible outcomes for your residents, your team, and your facility.
Better5 is structured around the exercise types — balance, functional strength, consistent group-based sessions — that peer-reviewed research shows are most effective for reducing fall risk.
When families know their loved one is in a structured fall prevention program built on published research, it builds trust. It's a meaningful talking point in tours and family conversations.
Monthly participation reports feed directly into resident care documentation — showing consistent engagement with a structured wellness program.
When you're asked about your fall prevention programming, "we use a structured program built on published fall prevention research" is a very different answer than "we do some exercises."
Book a free 20-minute demo and we'll walk you through exactly how Better5 works in a real senior living setting.
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