Falls are common in elderly patients and are often multi-factorial. Risk factors must be minimised and all patients who fall frequently need multidisciplinary assessment by doctors/nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social services (in case more care is required). The differential diagnosis of falls is covered here.
Falls history
Age
Frequency of falls (in past 12 months)
Reason for falls, e.g. trip, unsteadiness, syncope
Who performs their daily tasks (if the patient does them, how well?)
Washing
Dressing
Cooking
Cleaning
Shopping
Mobility: baseline, mobility aids
Alcohol
Footwear: appropriately fitting?
Exercise: increases muscle strength, reduces frailty and falls risk
Home hazards: rugs, cables, furniture, wet floors, stairs, lighting
Examination β adapt depending on risk factors from history
General examination: frailty, myopathy, sarcopenia
Cognitive assessment: e.g. mini-mental state examination
Neurological examination: including gait, balance and signs of parkinsonism
Visual examination
Cardiovascular exam, postural BPs and ECG
Specific falls risk tests
Timed βup and goβ test: request that the patient rise from a chair without the support of their arms, walk 3 metres, then turn round and sit down again. A walking aid can be used if required. Completion of the test without unsteadiness or difficulty suggests a low risk of falling.
βTurn 180Β°β test: request that the patient stand up and turn around until they are facing the opposite direction. If more than four steps are required to do this, further assessment is indicated.
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessments