Fall Prevention in Older Adults: Risk Assessment and Interprofessional Management

Course overview

Falls remain a leading cause of injury, functional decline, hospitalization, and death in older adults, with risk influenced by prior falls, gait and balance impairment, chronic disease burden, vision problems, orthostatic symptoms, medication exposure, and environmental hazards. This activity reviews the epidemiology and clinical burden of falls. It discusses recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), American Geriatrics Society (AGS), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Guidance from these entities varies, but they review targeted interventions for older adults in community-dwelling settings and provide specific recommendations. Interventions may include medication management, vision screenings, referrals to fall-prevention programs, and exercise regimens. Distinctions between community-dwelling older adults and care-facility populations are highlighted throughout, with attention to the complementary roles of healthcare team members in implementing evidence-based fall-prevention strategies.