How Health-Care Practitioners Can Help Patients Avoid Falls

By Jane Farrell

Editor’s note: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.8 million elderly people are treated annually in emergency rooms for falls, while more than 800,000 patients are hospitalized every year. And the incidence is likely to rise as 10,000 people in the U.S. turn 65 every day. Additionally, the National Council on Aging says that falls are the number one cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older people. Here, from Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, in Los Angeles, are ways both patients and health care practitioners can help avoid falls.

Falls by senior citizens are one of the most dangerous and common health issues. Falls threaten independence and even lives.

But simple steps, and assessment by health care practitioners, can help avoid falls, according to Cedar-Sinai Medical Group in Los Angeles.

“The best medical treatment for injuries from falls is to prevent them from happening in the first place,” says geriatrician Sonja Rosen, MD, associate medical director, Geriatric Care Programs and chief of Geriatric Medicine for Cedars-Sinai Medical Group. “Seniors who have fallen — or are afraid they will — should get a comprehensive risk assessment from a geriatrician, who can determine the causes of their falls and give them a treatment plan.”

Research shows that effective interventions reduce the frequent falling rate of older patients by 30 to 40 percent.

According to a news release from Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, falls assessment includes an in-office health screening to document previous spills, review the patient’s social and physical movement history, evaluate the patient’s need for walking or balance aids, and take stock of a patient’s medications — such as sedatives — that can make seniors unsteady.

Next, a functional review tests patients’ strength, balance and gait. Geriatricians watch patients stand from a seated position with feet together and arms across their chest. Patients also are timed getting out of a chair and walking several feet.

Following the assessment, a patient might be prescribed medication or nutritional supplements or be taken off a medication that increases their risk for falls. Assistive walking devices like a cane might be recommended, as well as physical therapy or an exercise program designed to increase balance or strength.

And the comprehensive evaluation doesn’t stop at the doctor’s office. The physician may order a home health and safety visit with an occupational therapist, who can recommend household modifications like a grab bar in the shower. Case managers and social workers also can connect patients to community resources for food or help getting to doctor appointments, if needed.

“Falls are common but never normal with aging,” Rosen says. “In many cases, we can prevent falls by following a few commonsense guidelines.”

The guidelines Rosen shares with her falls-assessment patients are:

1. Avoid household hazards. Most people fall at home. Get rid of loose rugs and declutter hallways.
2. Clear a path at night. Keep an open walkway to the bathroom and turn on a dim light.
3. If you fall, let your doctor know. Falls are common but never normal.
4. Ask your doctor to review your medications. Certain drugs can cause falls.
5. If you have a cane or walker, always use it as directed. Nobody knows when they’ll fall.

About Cedars-Sinai

Cedars-Sinai is a leader in providing high-quality healthcare encompassing primary care, specialized medicine and research. Since 1902, Cedars-Sinai has evolved to meet the needs of one of the most diverse regions in the nation, setting standards in quality and innovative patient care, research, teaching and community service. Today, Cedars-Sinai is known for its national leadership in transforming healthcare for the benefit of patients. Cedars-Sinai impacts the future of healthcare by developing new approaches to treatment and educating tomorrow’s health professionals. Additionally, Cedars-Sinai demonstrates a commitment to the community through programs that improve the health of its most vulnerable residents.