Fall prevention & intervention in home care

According to information gathered by the Centers for Disease Control, falling is the leading cause of death in women and the fourth leading cause of death in men between the ages of 65 and 85. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women over the age of 85. The percentage of falls among community-dwelling elderly persons increases from 25 percent at age 70 to 35 percent after age 75. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment plan must be established to address the manifold problem of falls in our elderly patient population. A comprehensive evaluation to include medical history, medications, functional assessment, and home safety must be performed in order to reduce the patient's risk of falls, thereby maximizing safe, functional mobility.