Losing balance and falling down is a common problem for many older people. While most people are not injured when they fall, the more falls an individual has, the greater the chance of injury.

Many people believe that falling is a normal part of aging. But this is a myth. Falls are typically caused by certain health conditions (e.g., normal physical changes of aging and illness), environmental hazards in the home that interfere with safety(e.g., clutter, low lighting, slippery floors, etc.) and/or situational or behavioral factors (i.e., hurrying, not paying attention, forgetting to use one’s cane, etc.).

In most of cases, falls do not have to happen. Many of the causes of falling are preventable. In order to stop falls from happening, it will help you to understand who is at greatest risk.

While anyone can fall, there are certain conditions or situations putting older individuals at higher risk. Generally, individuals who have several falling episodes, difficulty with their walking and balance, impaired mental skills, difficulty seeing, and who are taking multiple medications are at greater risk for falls. The greater the number of risk factors to which an individual is exposed, the greater the probability of a fall, and the more likely the results of the fall will threaten the person's independence.

The good news is that falls are preventable; even in those individuals who may have several fall risk factors. But prevention only works if you take action. The first step in avoiding a fall is by discovering if falls are in your future. To find out, answer the quick ‘Self-Assessment of Fall Risk’ checklist found below. A ‘Yes’ response to one or more of the questions may indicate that you are at risk for a fall.

The best way to evaluate whether you are at risk is to visit your doctor, show him or her your checklist and talk about your concerns. The checklist will help start the conversation with your doctor, and result in recommended interventions or strategies aimed at helping you to prevent falls.  

Falling poses a serious health risk to older adults. The odds of preventing a fall and staying on your feet starts by finding out about whether falls are in your future.

Checklist for Self-Assessment of Fall Risk

Question 1:
Have you fallen one or more times in the past 3 months?
Yes
No
Explanation: Many falls just ‘don’t happen’ but are caused by underlying health conditions or problems.

Question 2:
Have you slipped or tripped 2 or more times in the past 3 months?
Yes
No
Explanation: Frequent slipping or tripping may indicate a problem with walking or seeing correctly.

Question 3: Do you often feel unsteady or lose your balance?
Yes
No
Explanation: Feeling unsteady or losing balance may be an early indication of a medical condition that requires looking into.  

Question 4:
Do you have difficulty walking? Do you sometimes hold on to furniture or walls for support?
Yes
No
Explanation: Difficulty with walking may indicate a problem with the nervous system or weak leg muscles.

Question 5:
Do you have difficulty getting up from a chair or sofa?
Yes
No
Explanation: Difficulty with getting up may be a sign of weak muscles or other medical conditions.

Question 6:
Have you noticed a change in your vision?
Yes
No
Explanation: Seeing correctly is important in avoiding trips and slips.

Question 7:
Do you take 5 or more medications daily?
Yes
No
Explanation: Some medications can cause dizziness, drowsiness and balance problems.

Question 8:
Have you noticed a decline in your memory? Do you sometimes become easily confused?
Yes
No
Explanation: Difficulty with memory or thinking correctly can interfere with safe mobility.

To learn more about home-related care issues, read John Mills’ article on choosing the right home health aide.

Rein Tideiksaar Ph.D., PA-C (or Dr Rein as he is commonly referred to) is the president of FallPrevent, LLC, Blackwood, NJ, a consulting company that provides educational, legal and marketing services related to fall prevention in the elderly. Dr Tideiksaar is a gerontologist (health care professional who specializes in working with elderly patients) and a geriatric physician's assistant. He has been active in the area of fall prevention for over 30 years, and has directed numerous research projects on falls and has developed fall prevention programs in the community, assisted living, home care, acute care hospital, and nursing facility setting. To learn more, check out the Dr’s professional profile on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dr-rein/6/759/592 If you have any questions about preventing falls, please feel free to e-mail Dr. Tideiksaar at drrein@verizon.net.