Assessment of Falls in the Elderly

Assessment of Falls in the Elderly

One third of community-dwelling elderly people and 60 percent of nursing home residents fall each year. personal alarms AU These falls can have a serious impact on the patient’s health and quality of life, leading to further complications and resulting in a higher cost for care and services.

The risk factors for falls in the elderly are many and diverse. Medications, sensory deficits, cognitive impairment, and physical conditions can all contribute to increased falls in the elderly. Fortunately, there are numerous treatments available to address these issues.

RISK FACTORS FOR A FIRST FALL

Older patients are often at a higher risk for a fall because of age-related declines in their ability to maintain balance and postural control. These declines are the result of an increasing burden on the normal homeostatic systems responsible for these processes (figure 1).

Treatments may include medical, surgical, and nonpharmacologic interventions that can increase balance, strengthen the body, reduce falls, and improve quality of life. These interventions are usually implemented in combination to maximize the effectiveness of each.

RISK FACTORS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Environmental hazards such as darkened stairways, loose rugs, and unsafe footwear are associated with falls in the elderly. While the link between these hazards and falls has been debated, it is possible that behavioral and environmental interventions can be successful in reducing these risks.

It is important to identify the specific environmental hazards that contribute to falls in order to develop appropriate safety measures. Some of these hazards can be eliminated by a simple behavior change, while others require the implementation of more complex and time-consuming modifications to a person’s environment.