Falls in older people: assessing risk and prevention

Older people in contact with healthcare professionals should be asked routinely whether they have fallen in the past year and asked about the frequency, context and characteristics of the fall/s. [2004]

Older people who present for medical attention because of a fall, or report recurrent falls in the past year, or demonstrate abnormalities of gait and/or balance should be offered a multifactorial falls risk assessment. This assessment should be performed by a healthcare professional with appropriate skills and experience, normally in the setting of a specialist falls service. This assessment should be part of an individualised, multifactorial intervention. [2004]

Regard the following groups of inpatients as being at risk of falling in hospital and manage their care according to recommendations 1.2.2.1 to 1.2.3.2:

For patients at risk of falling in hospital (see recommendation 1.2.1.2), consider a multifactorial assessment and a multifactorial intervention. [new 2013]

Ensure that any multifactorial assessment identifies the patient's individual risk factors for falling in hospital that can be treated, improved or managed during their expected stay. These may include: