Reducing falls in community dwelling elderly. The role of GP care planning

Falls in the elderly are common and often result in injury. A large body of evidence has identified the risk factors for falls, and indicates that strategies to prevent falls need to be targeted and multidisciplinary.

This article aims to present the epidemiology of falls in the elderly, discuss current knowledge of ways of approaching the problem, and using an evidence based approach, explore how general practitioners can identify elderly persons at risk of falls, and implement the use of a care planning model into general practice.

General practitioners are well placed to identify patients at risk of a fall, and the new Enhanced Primary Care items for care planning provide opportunities to improve the way in which we manage these patients.