Assessment and management of fall risk in primary care settings

Med Clin North Am. 2015 Mar;99(2):281-93. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2014.11.004.

Abstract

Falls among older adults are neither purely accidental nor inevitable; research has shown that many falls are preventable. Primary care providers play a key role in preventing falls. However, fall risk assessment and management is performed infrequently in primary care settings. This article provides an overview of a clinically relevant, evidence-based approach to fall risk screening and management. It describes resources, including the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) tool kit that can help providers integrate fall prevention into their practice.

Keywords: Accidental falls; Aged; Community health services; Preventive health services/organization and administration; Primary prevention; Risk assessment and management; Secondary prevention; Wounds and injuries.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control*
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / diagnosis
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / therapy
  • Medical History Taking
  • Postural Balance
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'*
  • Primary Health Care / methods*
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration
  • Primary Health Care / standards
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensation Disorders / diagnosis
  • Sensation Disorders / therapy
  • Syncope / diagnosis
  • Syncope / therapy