General Practitioners and Frequent Falls in Elderly

Frequent falls in elderly are a major health concern. They may cause a broken leg or an injury to the brain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in four people over the age of 65 fall at some point in their lives.

General practitioners often serve as the first port of call for patients with health issues. They are knowledgeable about patients' health history and social networks. As such, they are ideally placed to assess patients' risk for falls.

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury-related visits to emergency departments in the U.S., causing 2.9 million visits a year. In addition, falls are the primary etiology of accidental deaths in older adults.





fall activated medical alert General practitioners often fail to identify patients with a high fall risk. Fortunately, there are several interventions available that can help reduce the risk of falls.

One of the most effective ways to prevent falls in the elderly is by making the home safer. personal alarms Safer bathrooms, sturdy rugs, and slip-proof mats are just a few suggestions.

Another way to lower the risk of a fall is to exercise. Research has shown that exercising in the elderly can be a positive way to improve balance, increase strength, and reduce the risk of falling.

However, implementing evidence-based falls prevention interventions can be a challenge in primary care. Older patients may not realize they are at a high risk for falls and many do not meet the requirements for evidence-based interventions.