Ways Professionals Can Reduce Falls
“Falls are a very important problem for senior citizens, their families and our community. Individual consequences from falls include pain, debility, loss of independence, serious medical injuries, and sometimes death. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury death in patients 65 and older. Let me stress – falls are not an inevitable part of aging. With preventive medical care, informed use of community resources – of which there are many – injury and loss of independence can be avoided.”
Andy Kosseff, MD, Chair, Falls Prevention Task Force of Safe Communities.
The bad news:
- Falls in Wisconsin are increasing;
- Wisconsin has second highest death rate from falls in the nation;
- Falls are Dane County’s number one case of injury hospitalization, with older adults bearing the brunt of these serious injuries.
The good news is there are easy ways clinicians can reduce an older adult’s risk of falling. As a professional health care provider, you have a critical role to play to help older adults in our community prevent falls and remain independent. We hope you find this website to be a helpful resource.
Screening for Falls Risk
A quick proven screening is an easy first step in detecting those at risk and reducing falls and the major injuries that can result from falling. Screening older adults is easy and manageable for professionals to do, just by asking the right questions.
Ask the following three questions of older adults regularly:
- Have you fallen in the past year?
- How many times have you fallen in the past year?
- Are you afraid of falling?
Factors that increase a person’s risk of falls:
Anyone can fall although more often falls occur in older adults. Falls are often the result of many factors related to the individual and his or her environment.
Individual Risk Factors
| Not Modifiable |
Modifiable |
| Older age |
Muscle weakness |
| Female |
Gait and balance problems |
| Chronic diseases |
Vision problems |
| Mentally impaired |
Psychoactive medications |
Environmental Risk Factors Cold
| Not Modifiable |
Modifiable |
| Temperature |
Clutter in walkways |
| Uneven pavement |
No stair railings or grab bars |
| Poor public space designs |
Loose rugs |
|
Dim lighting |
Thanks to Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative for graciously sharing contents of their website with Safe Communities. Professional pages were written by Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative in partnership with Gregory J. Hanson, M.D. and Ericka E. Tung M.D., MPH, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine: Division of Primary Care Internal Medicine.
