Older Adults: Fall Prevention

Course overview

Falls are a serious health risk for older people. For many, a fall is a life-changing event that can lead to disability, loss of independence, and even death. In 2019, over 3.1 million older adults were treated in EDs for nonfatal fall injuries; over 800,000 were hospitalized, and over 34,000 died from a fall (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). The good news is that many falls can be prevented (CDC, 2021b). Healthcare professionals who encounter older adults need to understand what causes falls and what strategies prevent these events. The goal of this course is to educate nurses in the acute care setting about ways to identify risk factors for falls in the older adult population and how to apply evidence-based strategies to prevent them.