Zobrazení zdroje stránky Fall Risk Assessment for Older Adults

Falls occur in about one-third of people 65 years or older, with consequences ranging from mild to severe. Fall-related injuries are common, and those who survive falls usually suffer hip fractures that require long-term nursing home placement (CDC, 2012b).<br /><br />Community-dwelling adults with risk factors for falling should receive a thorough assessment of their risks by their primary care provider. They should be evaluated with a multifactorial approach that identifies modifiable factors, and interventions should be offered to reduce the patient's likelihood of future falls.<br /><br />The most effective falls prevention intervention is a safe exercise program that improves strength and balance and safe mobility. This recommendation is based on the most recent scientific evidence, which has found that fall prevention interventions are most effective when a multifactorial approach is used to address many predisposing factors.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />CDC guidelines recommend that primary care providers screen patients for fall risk at least once a year using a screening tool called the Staying Independent Checklist, which is designed to assess fall risk by asking about falls and unsteadiness when walking. The checklist is easy to complete and has been found to be a useful tool for identifying falls in older adults.<br /><br />Other tools commonly used to assess fall risk include the Berg Balance Scale, a 4-stage balance test that measures how well you can keep your balance when standing, and the Timed Up-and-Go test, which measures how fast you can walk. These tests are used to measure a patient's balance and gait and may also be helpful for assessing cognitive function, peripheral sensation, vision, and ability to transfer.<br /><br />