Fall Prevention Tips
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Falls in Older Adults: Prevention is the Key Facts On Falls Outcomes of Falls Hip fracture 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 falling 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 Fall Prevention Patients don’t tell. American Exercise – should include muscle Geriatrics Society Guidelines strengthining, flexibility and and the Centers for Disease 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 dementia and delirium and postural hypotension Physical exam including monitor frequently strength, balance, Make regular bathroom rounds Vitamin D supplementation as mobility, neurological Check environment and bathroom for fall needed function, muscle strength, risks feet and footwear Use a Home Safety Checklist to Orthostatic hypotension 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/ .