According to the CDC, millions of people 65 years of age and older fall annually. One in four older adults experience at least one fall in a year, but less than half tell their healthcare providers about the incident. One in five recorded falls causes a severe injury, such as broken bones or a head injury.

How can you help prevent falls for your patients?

• Ask about any falls or near misses in the past year.
• Consider having your patients complete a printed or electronic 12-question STEADI questionnaire prior to scheduled appointments.
• Screen for falls using a comprehensive fall risk assessment tool. Use a gait, strength and balance test to assess the patients’ medications for side effects that could contribute to a fall.
• Order assistive devices or physical therapy to aid in fall prevention.
• Suggest community exercise programs designed to improve balance and stabilization.

Additional Resources

• CDC Resources
  • Algorithm for Fall Risk Screening, Assessment, and Intervention
  • STEADI – Older Adult Fall Prevention
  • The 4-Stage Balance Test
  • The 30-Second Chair Stand
     
• NCBI Assessment and Management of Fall Risk in Primary Care Settings
• NIH MedlinePlus: Fall Risk Assessment