Reducing falls and fall risk is best accomplished when it addresses multiple risk factors. The home environment is one critical area to consider as there are often overlooked hazards that are easy to fix. Older adults and their families should consider using The Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults. Healthcare providers may find the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST) a useful tool to guide in home assessments and recommendations.
The Stay Independent brochure, available as a component of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention STEADI programming, contains a Fall risk Screening questionnaire that is useful to older adults and their families, community centers, and health care providers. The 12-question screening tool is a validated fall risk self-assessment tool (Rubenstein et al. J Safety Res; Read More
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is frequently used to determine the ability to be safe with activity and fall risk. A therapist times how long it takes an individual to stand up from a chair, walk a short distance (10 feet), turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down. This test Read More
Urinary incontinence, or leaking urine when you don’t mean to, is connected to a higher risk of falling, especially in older adults. Individuals with incontinence often feel they have to get to the bathroom quickly, causing them to move too fast and increase the chance of falling. Worrying about accidents and leaking may also cause Read More
Falls can happen to anyone, and recovering from a fall safely is crucial for preventing further injury. Lying on the floor for an extended period of time following a fall can result in complications. Whether you’ve experienced a slip in your home, while walking outdoors, on the stairs, or during an exercise routine, knowing how Read More