Pharmacology 209 - Discovering The Balance Between How Medications Impact Falls

Course overview

Polypharmacy is a significant factor to consider, as older adults often experience greater adverse effects of medications than younger people due to their reduced kidney and liver function. Effective fall prevention programs for older adults should include an analysis of multiple components when conducting a root cause analysis. This course will initially share the facts related to common reasons for resident falls and will then focus on one of those components; the effects of medications on older people and the specific classes known to influence a person's fall risk. This discussion will detail three types of medications, those which affect the brain and cognition ("psychoactive"), those which affect blood pressure, and those that lower blood sugar. Furthermore, discover inter-professional communication strategies for optimal person-centered fall risk reduction.