Any fall in the elderly may signal impending major illness. Falls may be caused by any acute or chronic illness that causes weakness or dizziness. MI, stroke, or GI bleeding may well present with falls. A fall can be the first sign of urinary tract, respiratory, or gallbladder infection. Avoid open-ended questions, such as "What happened?" Patients often state they slipped or tripped--possibly not the true reason for the fall. Direct questions about symptoms ("Did you have difficulty in walking?" or "Did you feel dizzy?") elicit more specific information.