Falls

Question 1

Falls - RFs

Answer 1

Previous falls
Cognitive impairment
Lower limb neurological impairment, abnormal gait, abnormal balance
Gait aid
>4 medications, esp psychoactive
Poor vision/contrast sensitivity

Question 2

Falls - management

Answer 2

Consider dwelling: community vs nursing home

Both:

• MD interventions (education, PT, OT)
• medication review
• Vit D daily dose (note: yearly megadose INCREASED risk)
• exercise

Community

• footwear/podiatry assessment
• cataract repair

NH

• alarm mats
• scheduled toiletting
• ?hip protectors (injury prevention rather than fall prevention)