Falls in Older Adults: Prevention is the Key

Facts On Falls Outcomes of Falls

of community dwellers > 65 fall each year  Head injury  Soft tissue injury  Lacerations  Other (i.e. vertebral or of those who have Colles fractures) fallen will fall again  Pain

 Fear of  Decreased activity and of nursing home functional decline residents will fall each year  Cost may be up to $55 billion annually by 2020

What You Can Do to Prevent Falls In the Office General

Patients don’t tell. American  Exercise – should include muscle Society Guidelines strengthining, flexibility and and the Centers for balance training. Refer patients Control (CDC) recommend to evidence-based fall prevention you ask patients: programs -- Matter of Balance,  Ask about falls annually In the hospital or Long-term Care Stepping On, T’ai Chi, OTAGO  Ask about frequency and circumstances of falls  Assess patients for fall risks  Physical therapy for those with a  Ask about feeling  Individualize a plan of care to address gait/balance problem unsteady risks + communicate to team  Ask if patients worry about  Encourage activity levels and exercise  Appropriate use of assistive falling as to prevent decline devices – walker or cane  Make sure the older adult has their Those with a fall or concerns glasses, hearing aids, and walking aids  Annual vision checks and need a multi-factorial fall risk  Refer to therapy if needed to evaluate correction as needed assessment: walking, balance and activities of daily  Focused history living  Blood pressure checks for  Medication review  Identify and delirium and postural hypotension  Physical exam including monitor frequently strength, balance,  Make regular bathroom rounds  supplementation as mobility, neurological  Check environment and bathroom for fall needed function, muscle strength, risks feet and footwear Use a Home Safety Checklist to  Information on fall prevention for patients assess home for risks  Vision and clinicians are available from the CDC:  Functional Assessment STEADI Toolkit (Stopping Elderly Check if your state has a Fall activity/fear of falling/ Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) – Prevention Coalition. Missouri - curtailing activity https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/materials.html#ta http://www.dhss.mo.gov/seniors/  Home safety assessment bs-1205242-4 showmefallsfreemissouri/