14418 Prevention of Falls in Older Adults

Course overview

Discussion of the significance and consequences of falls in older adults including the internal and external risk factors, fall prevention interventions, and how to educate older adults on ways to prevent falls. In the United States, 2.8 million older adults (ages 65 and older) are treated in an emergency department for fall injuries each year, and over 800,000 individuals are hospitalized due to a fall-related injury. Falls are the leading cause of hip fractures, and more than 40% of individuals sustaining a hip fracture are unable to return to their home and live independently. Falls are the most common cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for older adults, and the direct medical costs related to fall injuries is approximately $31 billion annually. As the population ages, the costs associated with falls may reach $67.7 billion by 2020. Although one out of four older adults fall each year, less than half of these individuals tell their physician. This places these individuals at risk for future falls, as medical providers often play a role in identifying risk factors and developing a fall prevention plan. There are multiple factors that can contribute to falls in older adults, as well as many interventions that can be put into practice to aid in fall prevention. This program discusses falls in older adults, including classification, internal and external risk factors, risk assessment, and fall prevention interventions that can be implemented in order to decrease falls in this population.