Falls
The incidence of falls-related injury places a huge burden on the health service and has wider ramifications for the quality of life of those who have suffered as a result. Of those over 65 years of age, one in three will suffer a fall, with this rising to one in two for those aged over 85 years. Fractures are common and may lead to reduced mobility and increasing mortality with falls associated deaths as high as 14,000 per year in the UK.
Capturing patients who have fallen for the first time allows us to refer patients to the developing falls teams who can provide a range of supportive measures to prevent the patient from falling in the future. Falls are common in older people. Around 30% of people 65 years of age or older have a fall each year. This increases to 50% in people 80 years or older. By minimising the risk, we can minimise the likelihood of falls in the future.
A number of risk factors have been identified which increase the risk of falling:
- Conditions which affect mobility or balance such as arthritis, stroke, Parkinson's, heart failure or irregular heart rhythms
- Visual impairment
- Cognitive impairment
- Urinary incontinence
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Frailty
- Taking more than four medications
- Medications such as sleeping tablets and anti-depressants
- Drugs that can cause lowering of blood pressure
- Home hazards i.e., uneven steps, rugs, and trailing cables
However, the greatest risk factor for a fall is a previous fall. The subsequent fear of falling can cause a reduction in mobility, which in turn increases the likelihood of a further fall. This fear can also cause social isolation and a greatly reduced quality of life It is therefore vital that all falls are reviewed and that the patients GP is made aware so that an effective referral to the relevant falls prevention services or social prescribing teams can be made.
The following guidance pack was written to help support care providers in caring for people who are at risk of or who have fallen:
- Post Falls Guidance Pack for Care Providers