title: Assessment and management of fall risk in primary care settings.
abstract: Falls among older adults are neither purely accidental nor inevitable; research has shown that many falls are preventable. Primary care providers play a key role in preventing falls. However, fall risk assessment and management is performed infrequently in primary care settings. This article provides an overview of a clinically relevant, evidence-based approach to fall risk screening and management. It describes resources, including the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) tool kit that can help providers integrate fall prevention into their practice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9th Avenue, Box 359755, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA. Electronic address: phelane@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 310 North Midvale, Suite 205, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Physical and Hand Therapy Clinic, Harborview Medical Center, 908 Jefferson Street, Box 359920, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA.
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Voit
authors.affiliation: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS F-62, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008487:Medical History Taking; D004856:Postural Balance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Accidental falls; Aged; Community health services; Preventive health services/organization and administration; Primary prevention; Risk assessment and management; Secondary prevention; Wounds and injuries