Falls

Ariel Yudkovich
SGUL
 What is a
fall?

• A fall is defined as an event which results in a person

coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or floor
or other lower level. Fall-related injuries may be fatal
or non-fatal.
Fall definition
• Falls in older persons occur
commonly and are major factors
threatening the independence
of older
individuals.
• Complications resulting from falls
are the leading cause of death from
injury in adults ≥65
years old.
 The incidence of falls increases with
age and varies according
to living status.
People over the age of 65 years have
between 30 and 40
EPIDEMIOLO percent cases of fall each year.
GY OF FALLS For those 80 years and older increasing
to about 50
percent.
Falls and fall injuries were reported more
commonly by women
than by men
 “Fallophobia”

• Fear of falling, also called

the post-fall anxiety
syndrome, is a well-
recognized syndrome in
older persons.
Fear of falling
Fear of falling was associated with:
• Living alone
• Cognitive impairment
• Depression
• Balance and mobility impairments.
• History of falls.
Causes of falls
• In older adults, falls rarely have a single cause,
rather there is often a complex interaction
among factors.
Falls can be described in terms of three phases:
1)Physical risk factors:
Changes in your body that increase your risk
for a fall .
2)Behavioral risk factors:
Things we do or don’t do that increase our
fall risk.
3)Environmental risk factors:
Hazards in our home or community.
Medications and Falls Risk

• Side effects may make you dizzy.

• Medication changes can increase fall risk.
• Use one pharmacy.
• Review your medications each year .
• Be sure you can read your labels.
FALLS EVALUATION
• Diagnostic testing may be indicated based upon the history and
physical examination, including evaluation of postural stability, gait,
and mobility.
• Most important consideration in the history is a previous fall, which
places the patient at increased risk of future falls.
• Laboratory tests.
• Echocardiography.
• brain imaging.
• radiographic studies of the spin.
FALLS PREVENTION
• High-risk patients should receive a multifactorial intervention including:
• exercise program with muscle strengthening and gait and balance training.
• vitamin D supplementation with or without calcium.
• management of medications.
• home environment modification.
• and management of postural hypotension.
• vision problems.
• foot problems.
These strategies can also reduce hip and other fractures, head injuries, use of
medical services related to falls.
Thank you!