Notes

Assessment of Falls in the Elderly
Falls are a common problem in older adults and are associated with death, prolonged hospitalizations, premature nursing home placement, social isolation and fall-related anxiety syndrome. They can also cause pain and limited mobility, which limit the patient's independence and quality of life.

A standardized assessment of risk factors for falls aids in clinical decision making and helps ensure that key risk factors are identified, which allows the care team to act on them in the patient's care plan. This enables streamlined care planning and communication between health care workers, thereby reducing rework and delays.

Performing a comprehensive physical examination to exclude obvious intrinsic causes of falls (eg, high blood pressure, heart rate abnormalities), identifying low vision, and reviewing medications can identify potential risk factors that need attention. A comprehensive history of falls can reveal a number of additional factors that might need attention, such as the use of assistive devices at home or environmental hazards that can contribute to falls.

Screening Tests:
The CDC and American Geriatric Society recommend that all patients 65 years and older be screened for fall risk. This is done using a series of tests that can be used to assess balance, gait, strength and mobility.

One of the most important tests is the Five Times Sit to Stand (5X STS) which demonstrates strength. medical alert systems with fall detection It takes about 10 minutes to do and may help identify problems with walking that might increase the patient's risk of falls. tracker for dementia patients Another helpful test is the Performance-Oriented Assessment of Mobility, which identifies problems with gait and balance that can increase the patient's risk of falling.
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