Falls in the elderly is a serious issue that requires prevention strategies. An older adult falls every second of every day, but less than half discuss their falls with a doctor. To properly address this problem, healthcare providers must identify patients at low, moderate, and high risk of falls and determine modifiable risk factors. Effective interventions include staff education, timely reporting of fall incidents, risk stratification, health coaching, and exercise programs. However, implementing a falls prevention program faces many challenges related to patients' language barriers, cognition, culture, housing, functional limitations, medical issues, finances, education, social factors, beliefs, and emotions. Patient and family compliance with education is also a challenge.

1. Falls in the Elderly
A Balancing Act
by :Merce Veneracion, PT, CCI

2. Definition of
a Fall
Unintentional change
in height or descent
resulting to being in
the ground

3. We aim to prevent
falls
An older adult falls every second
every day . But , less than half talk
to their doctor or someone their
fall.

4. We aim to ask the
right questions
Identify patients who are at low,
moderate and high risk for falls
Identify modifiable risk factors
Offer effective interventions

5. FALLS PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS
AND OUTCOMES

6. STRAT E G IES
STAFF EDUCATION ( STEADI-CDC)
ALGORITHM ( TIMELY FALLS INCIDENT
REPORTING AND INTERVENTION FROM
APPROPRIATE CLINICIAN )
FALLS STRATIFICATION
HEALTH COACHING - “ASK , TELL, ASK APPROACH”
OTAGO FALLS PREVENTION PROGRAM

7. Challenges Encountered in
Implementing a Falls
Prevention Program

8. Challenges
language
Cognition Status
Cultural Considerations
Housing

9. Chal lenges
Functional barriers
Medical challenges
Financial considerations
Educational background and
literacy levels

10. Chal lenges
Social factors and consideration
Religion and Beliefs
Emotional challenges
Patient compliance

11. Chal lenges
Poor patient and family follow through
on training and education given by the
team
Staffing and consistency of caregivers
from contracted agency
Families who are the assigned caregivers
often fail to f u l f i l l their duties