Falls in the elderly: what can be done?

Int Nurs Rev. 2007 Jun;54(2):191-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2007.00505.x.

Abstract

Aim: This article gives information about falls in the elderly.

Background: The evaluation of an older patient who has fallen includes a focused history with an emphasis on medications, risk factors and physical examination. The article also discusses the aetiology and prevention of falls.

Conclusion: Risk factors for falls in the elderly include increasing age, medication use, cognitive impairment and sensory deficits. To reduce the incidence of patient falls, clinicians and researchers have developed a variety of risk assessment tools to aid in the identification of patients at greater risk of falling.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abbreviations as Topic
  • Accidental Falls / economics
  • Accidental Falls / mortality
  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control*
  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents, Home / prevention & control
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged* / physiology
  • Aged* / psychology
  • Aged* / statistics & numerical data
  • Cost of Illness
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Geriatric Nursing
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Interior Design and Furnishings
  • Medical History Taking
  • Mobility Limitation
  • Nursing Assessment / methods*
  • Physical Examination / methods
  • Physical Examination / nursing
  • Primary Prevention
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Safety Management / methods*