Falls: Which Residents Are At Risk?

Falls can happen in a split second. While they can’t always be prevented, it’s important to know which of your residents are at an increased fall risk.

According to the CDC, residents are more likely to fall if they have the following traits^1:

•   Have muscle weakness and walking or gait problems (these residents account for almost a quarter of all falls in nursing homes)
• Take medications, including sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs
• Have difficulty moving from one place to another
• Have poor foot care or poorly fitting shoes
• Use walking aids improperly or incorrectly

Environmental risks, including wet floors, poor lighting, incorrect bed heights and improperly fitted or maintained wheelchairs, can also contribute to falls.

The CDC recommends implementing a fall prevention strategy that includes a combination of medical treatment, rehabilitation and environmental interventions that should be undertaken at the organizational, staff and resident levels. To learn more, click here.

Reference

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Falls in Nursing Homes. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/nursing.html. Accessed October 8, 2012.