Interventions to prevent falls

• Interventions to prevent falls
  • elderly people with risk factors can be offered the following interventions:
    • strength and balance training
      • strength and balance training is recommended
        • those most likely to benefit are older people living in the community with a history of recurrent falls and/or balance and gait deficit. A muscle-strengthening and balance programme should be offered. This should be individually prescribed and monitored by an appropriately trained professional
          
          
    • home hazard assessment and intervention
      • older people who have received treatment in hospital following a fall should be offered a home hazard assessment and safety intervention/modifications by a suitably trained healthcare professional. Normally this should be part of discharge planning and be carried out within a timescale agreed by the patient or carer, and appropriate members of the health care team
      • home hazard assessment is shown to be effective only in conjunction with follow-up and intervention, not in isolation
        
        
    • vision assessment and referral
      
      
    • medication review with modification or withdrawal (1)

Reference:

• 1. National institute of clinical excellence 2013. Clinical practice guideline for the assessment and prevention of falls in older people.