Falls in the geriatric patient.
Falls are common in the geriatric and older adult population, often causing significant morbidity or mortality. The geometry of the human body in motion requires a highly functional individual to remain balanced and upright under a variety of conditions and perturbations. Balance in this population is adversely affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Medications' therapeutic and side effects frequently contribute to falls. An aggressive approach to falls reduction, including eliminating balance-altering medication, obtaining sub-specialty and balance evaluations when warranted, and requesting home safety assessments is advocated in this review of the current concepts and literature.
Przybelski
R J
RJ
Section of Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 2870 University Ave, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53705, USA. rjprzybel@facstaff.wisc.edu
Shea
T A
TA
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011159:Population Surveillance; D004856:Postural Balance; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology