Elderly Fall Screening Test

The Elderly Fall Screening Test (EFST) is a tool that assesses the fall risk of older adults. Personal Alarms It divides participants into low-risk and high-risk groups based on their scores. It was validated in a community primary care clinic.

Pros and Cons: EFST is simple, inexpensive to administer and has established reliability and validity data. However, the test requires clinicians to be skilled in performing the instrument, and may be time-consuming for nurses or other healthcare providers to conduct in busy primary care settings.

Scripted Fall Risk Screening Tool (FRST): The Scripted FRST evaluates fall risk among frailer independent community-dwelling older adults. It includes seven items assessing age, physical environment, health status and predisposing conditions, including pain. It has a good reliability assessment and is sensitive to changes over time.

Four-Stage Balance Test: The four stage balance test involves standing in different positions with your arms crossed. You hold each position for 10 seconds. The positions vary in difficulty with the fourth one involving standing on one foot.

Timed Up and Go: The timed up and go test checks how well you can walk on your own. Start in a chair, stand up and walk 10 feet, then return to the chair to sit down. If it takes you 12 seconds or longer to do this exercise, you are at a higher fall risk.

A yearly fall risk assessment is important for identifying those at high risk of falling. Your health care provider and caregiver can then discuss strategies that will help you avoid falls and injuries.