title: Incidences of falls need to be looked at to determine means of prevention.
abstract: This publication in our sister journal, the Nursing Standard, discusses how the prevention of falls in care facilities for people with dementia requires the engagement of all staff involved. Falls should be investigated to find the possible cause. Each incident should be examined in relation to the time of day, where it occurred and surrounding activity. Medication should also be checked; for example, drugs used to calm anxiety can have a powerful anticholinergic effect which increases the risk of falls. Patients who are occupied in social or recreational activities are less likely to be anxious or aggressive and so will require less medication.