Fall Prevention in the Home
Falls in the home are a common yet preventable source of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report QuickStats section that older adults aged 75 years or older had the most nonfatal injury falls in which health care providers were consulted because of the injury. These data, from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, indicate that 12% of this older adult population experience a fall significant enough to seek health care. There are specific factors that contribute to fall risk, including changes to the person attributable to age, medication use, and environmental hazards. Nurses are in key roles to work with older adults to assess fall risks and help them gain control over this aspect of their health.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidelines for fall prevention in older adults at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/ checklistforsafety.htm.
Risk factors attributable to the aging process include visual, hearing, and functional limitations. Although pets have proven to be a benefit for older adults by providing companionship and comfort, they can also scamper underfoot or the older adult may trip over the pet because the pet is not seen or heard. Loss of night vision and depth perception can also contribute to falls when lighting is poor or when a person is moving from room to room. Older adults should be encouraged to always wear prescribed vision and hearing aids when moving about the house or apartment. Loss of u er and lower bo strength can also contribute to fall risk. Lower body strength is needed to lift the legs and feet high enough to navigate stairs and changes in texture of flooring- Upper body strength allows the use of supports when a person is moving about. Watch the person maneuver about the living space and note the use of furniture. walls. and other objects for support. Medications can contribute to disequilibrium. A careful review of currently used medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter medications, can help identify medications that could possibly contribute to fall risks. Environmental risks include clutter, too much furniture for the room, placement of items in typical walkways. lighting problems. needed repairs to flooring and walls, and the need for supports such as grab bars and railings. Again, watching the person The nursing implications of fall risk are many and varied, Assessment skills must be practiced in a variety of settings so that the nurse is vigilant for potential hazards and individual factors that might precipitate a fall. Older adults should be routinely observed performing their daily routines to identify visual, hearing, and functional decline. Also. if a person reports a fall. that report should trigger a more extensive evaluation of that individual because falls may be indicative of future fall risk. Falls are a frequent but preventable occurrence, especially for older adults. Falls also contribute millions of dollars each year to the cost of health care as a result of personal injury and disability. That is why fall prevention is a key feature of quality and safety education for nurses. Questions Can you identify at least four items in your own environment that may contribute to your fall risk? How would you structure an interview with an older adult to determine the presence of fall risks in that person's home? What evidence and arguments would you use to encourage an older adult to modify the home environment to decrease the risk of a fall? check list for safety.htm. Risk factors attributable to the aging process include visual. hearing. and functional limitations. Although pets have proven to be a benefit for older adults by providing companionship and comfort, they can also scamper underfoot or the older adult may trip over the pet because the pet is not seen or heard. Loss of night vision and depth perception can also contribute to falls when lighting is poor or when a person is moving from room to room. Older adults should be encouraged to always wear prescribed vision and hearing aids when moving about the house or apartment. Loss of upper and lower body strength can also contribute to fall risk. Lower body strength is needed to lift the legs and feet high enough to navigate stairs and changes in texture of flooring- Upper body strength allows the use of supports when a person is moving about. Watch the person maneuver about the living space and note the use of furniture. walls. and other objects for support. Medications can contribute to disequilibrium. A careful review of currently used medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter medications, can help identify medications that could possibly contribute to fall risks. Environmental risks include clutter, too much furniture for the room, placement of items in typical walkways. lighting problems. needed repairs to flooring and walls, and the need for supports such as grab bars and railings. Again, watching the person The nursing implications of fall risk are many and varied, Assessment skills must be practiced in a variety of settings so that the nurse is vigilant for potential hazards and individual factors that might precipitate a fall. Older adults should be routinely observed performing their daily routines to identify visual, hearing, and functional decline. Also. if a person reports a fall. that report should trigger a more extensive evaluation of that individual because falls may be indicative of future fall risk. Falls are a frequent but preventable occurrence, especially for older adults. Falls also contribute millions of dollars each year to the cost of health care as a result of personal injury and disability. That is why fall prevention is a key feature of quality and safety education for nurses. Questions Can you identify at least four items in your own environment that may contribute to your fall risk? How would you structure an interview with an older adult to determine the presence of fall risks in that person's home? What evidence and arguments would you use to encourage an older adult to modify the home environment to decrease the risk of a fall?
Falls in the home are a common yet preventable source of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report QuickStats section that older adults aged 75 years or older had the most nonfatal injury falls in which health care providers were consulted because of the injury. These data, from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, indicate that 12% of this older adult population experience a fall significant enough to seek health care. There are specific factors that contribute to fall risk, including changes to the person attributable to age, medication use, and environmental hazards. Nurses are in key roles to work with older adults to assess fall risks and help them gain control over this aspect of their health.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidelines for fall prevention in older adults at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/ checklistforsafety.htm.
Risk factors attributable to the aging process include visual, hearing, and functional limitations. Although pets have proven to be a benefit for older adults by providing companionship and comfort, they can also scamper underfoot or the older adult may trip over the pet because the pet is not seen or heard. Loss of night vision and depth perception can also contribute to falls when lighting is poor or when a person is moving from room to room. Older adults should be encouraged to always wear prescribed vision and hearing aids when moving about the house or apartment. Loss of u er and lower bo strength can also contribute to fall risk. Lower body strength is needed to lift the legs and feet high enough to navigate stairs and changes in texture of flooring- Upper body strength allows the use of supports when a person is moving about. Watch the person maneuver about the living space and note the use of furniture. walls. and other objects for support. Medications can contribute to disequilibrium. A careful review of currently used medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter medications, can help identify medications that could possibly contribute to fall risks. Environmental risks include clutter, too much furniture for the room, placement of items in typical walkways. lighting problems. needed repairs to flooring and walls, and the need for supports such as grab bars and railings. Again, watching the person The nursing implications of fall risk are many and varied, Assessment skills must be practiced in a variety of settings so that the nurse is vigilant for potential hazards and individual factors that might precipitate a fall. Older adults should be routinely observed performing their daily routines to identify visual, hearing, and functional decline. Also. if a person reports a fall. that report should trigger a more extensive evaluation of that individual because falls may be indicative of future fall risk. Falls are a frequent but preventable occurrence, especially for older adults. Falls also contribute millions of dollars each year to the cost of health care as a result of personal injury and disability. That is why fall prevention is a key feature of quality and safety education for nurses. Questions Can you identify at least four items in your own environment that may contribute to your fall risk? How would you structure an interview with an older adult to determine the presence of fall risks in that person's home? What evidence and arguments would you use to encourage an older adult to modify the home environment to decrease the risk of a fall? check list for safety.htm. Risk factors attributable to the aging process include visual. hearing. and functional limitations. Although pets have proven to be a benefit for older adults by providing companionship and comfort, they can also scamper underfoot or the older adult may trip over the pet because the pet is not seen or heard. Loss of night vision and depth perception can also contribute to falls when lighting is poor or when a person is moving from room to room. Older adults should be encouraged to always wear prescribed vision and hearing aids when moving about the house or apartment. Loss of upper and lower body strength can also contribute to fall risk. Lower body strength is needed to lift the legs and feet high enough to navigate stairs and changes in texture of flooring- Upper body strength allows the use of supports when a person is moving about. Watch the person maneuver about the living space and note the use of furniture. walls. and other objects for support. Medications can contribute to disequilibrium. A careful review of currently used medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter medications, can help identify medications that could possibly contribute to fall risks. Environmental risks include clutter, too much furniture for the room, placement of items in typical walkways. lighting problems. needed repairs to flooring and walls, and the need for supports such as grab bars and railings. Again, watching the person The nursing implications of fall risk are many and varied, Assessment skills must be practiced in a variety of settings so that the nurse is vigilant for potential hazards and individual factors that might precipitate a fall. Older adults should be routinely observed performing their daily routines to identify visual, hearing, and functional decline. Also. if a person reports a fall. that report should trigger a more extensive evaluation of that individual because falls may be indicative of future fall risk. Falls are a frequent but preventable occurrence, especially for older adults. Falls also contribute millions of dollars each year to the cost of health care as a result of personal injury and disability. That is why fall prevention is a key feature of quality and safety education for nurses. Questions Can you identify at least four items in your own environment that may contribute to your fall risk? How would you structure an interview with an older adult to determine the presence of fall risks in that person's home? What evidence and arguments would you use to encourage an older adult to modify the home environment to decrease the risk of a fall?
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