RISK ASSESSMENT AND PREVENTION

BEFORE THE FALL was developed to address the concerns many older adults and their families may have about slipping  and having a serious fall.  These concerns are based in reality.

Home Questionnaire Assessment Evaluation

Consequences of Falling Mortality Falls are a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in people aged 65 years and over. Fall-related mortality increases dramatically with advancing age, especially in elders over 70 years of age. More than half of all fatal falls involve elders 75 years of age and older. An elder aged 85 and over is 40 times more likely to die as a result of a fall than someone in the 65 to 69 age group. Injurious Falls Although most falls produce no injury, between 5-10 percent of elders who fall each year sustain serious injury, such as fracture, head trauma, or serious laceration. Approximately 15 percent of elders who fall and injure themselves require hospitalization. Hip fractures are the most serious fall-related injury (95 percent of hip fractures are due to falls). Of the estimated 1 percent of elders who fall and sustain a hip fracture, 20-30 percent die within one year of the fracture. As many as two thirds of elders with hip fracture never regain their pre-fracture activity status and one-third require nursing home placement. About 6 percent of hospital falls result in fractures of the hip and distal forearm, whereas other physical injuries, such as head trauma, joint dislocations, muscle sprains, and lacerations, occur in about 12 percent of falls. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of nursing home falls cause serious injuries; 2 to 6 percent cause fractures. Up to 35 percent of fall injuries in the nursing home occur among non-ambulatory residents. Due to the high frequency of recurrent falls, the risk of sustaining an injurious fall in both the hospital and nursing home is substantial.  Psychological In the absence of injury, falls often lead to self-imposed mobility limitations resulting from a fear of falling and/or injury. Fear of falling, which occurs in about half of all elders, can lead to an older individual losing confidence in his/her ability to perform activities safely. Fear of falling is associated with functional decline, increasing depression, decreased quality of life, and further fall risk. One of the worst fears that seniors have is falling down and getting seriously hurt.  Such an injury may not only be life-threatening but also life altering. As a result of a serious injury, a person may lose his or her independence and require skilled care.

BEFORE THE FALL Fall Risk Assessment and Prevention Centers 1-800-499-3599 offices located throughout the Delaware Valley