Take A Stand To

Prevent Falls
FALL PREVENTION
CHADWICK BENSON, RN
ST. FRANCIS HOSPICE, 2020
ARE FALLS PREVENTABLE?
•The answer is yes, falls
are largely preventable.
 OBJECTIVES
• DEFINE A FALL
• EXPLAIN FEAR OF FALLING
• EXPLORE RISK FACTORS FOR FALLING
• EXPLAIN ACTIONS TO REDUCE FALL RISK
 WHAT IS A FALL?

•An unintentional change in

position from a higher to a
lower level
FEAR OF FALLING
WHY DOES A FEAR OF FALLING
MATTER?

•Limits activity
•Muscle weakness
•Isolation
FALL RISK FACTORS
•Physical
•Behavioral
•Environmental
 RISK FACTORS
• RISKS YOU CAN CHANGE • RISKS YOU CANNOT CHANGE
• PHYSICAL INACTIVITY • AGE
• HOME ENVIRONMENT • GENDER
• VISION • ETHNIC BACKGROUND
• MEDICATION USE
• FEAR OF FALLING
• SOCIAL ISOLATION
• WEAKNESS
• IMPROPER USE OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES
 FALL PREVENTION
•Exercise
•Medication review
•Vision check
•Home modifications
 HOME SAFETY
EVALUATION
•Identify and eliminate fall hazards in
the home and community
•An occupational therapist can help
identify safety issues and solutions
•A physical therapist can assist with an
exercise program and fall prevention
classes
• Use a hazard checklist such as the
CDC brochure “check for safety” and
go room by room to identify and
correct problems
MEDICATIONS
 VISION
• Having annual eye exams
after age 50 can help
identify vision problems.
• Wearing multifocal lenses
may blur or distort your
vision looking down.
• Removing cataract(s) may
reduce fall risk.
 BLOOD PRESSURE
• Check blood pressure regularly
• If dizziness is experienced when
standing up, make a doctor’s
appointment and have the “sit to
stand” blood pressure checked, or
perform orthostatic blood pressure
checks
• Some blood pressure medications
increase fall risk; do a medication
review with the doctor or
pharmacist
 Chronic Conditions
• Diabetes • Chronic pain
• Arthritis • Depression
• Stroke • Chronic obstructive
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Parkinson’s disease
 GETTING STARTED
WITH FALL
PREVENTION
• Start small!
• Create a list of risk factors unique to the individual
• Tackle one risk factor at a time
• Medication Review
• Environment Assessment
• Adjust canes and walkers to fit properly
 FALL PREVENTION IN
THE COMMUNITY
• The State of Hawaii maintains a list of fall prevention programs in
the document:
• Hawaii fall prevention resource guide
• The national council on aging:
• WWW.NCOA.org
• Hawaii Department of Health Interactive Fall Prevention Guide
• Map of local resources
 WHAT TO DO WHEN A
FALL HAPPENS
• Check for injury
• Call for help, if needed.
• Call hospice provider if hospice patient
• Seek medical attention right away if there is a head injury
• Call the doctor
• Check for safety hazards
• Learn how to get up safely
• If in doubt, do not wait.  Call 9-1-1 unless hospice