Campaign for Fall Prevention
In the Fall, the leaves fall, the temperatures fall, let’s work together to keep our patients from falling!
Approximately one third of older American’s fall each year. Injuries from falls can result in hospitalization, nursing home admissions and even death.
The chance of falling increases with age, not because of the number but because of what comes with age…disease processes, prescription medication use, and reduced body system function ie: reduced vision, reduced hearing, circulation issues, arthritis, etc. All these factors contribute to falls…patients do not have to present with dizziness and imbalance to be a fall risk.
All older adults should be questioned about falls. The frequency and mechanisms of the falls should be reviewed and a risk assessment performed.
If a fall has occurred and the patient cannot perform a standard balance test, skilled Physical Therapy should be strongly considered. A Physical Therapy Evaluation at The Balance Center of Las Vegas can rate an individual’s fall risk as well as identifying the underlying causes behind the risk.
Dr. Lloyd B Minor, M.D., from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, reports that recent government estimates show fatal falls in the elderly cost the US Medicare program $1 Billion dollars in hospital charges and those who survive but have injuries cost an additional $19 Billion!
Dr. Minor strongly recommends that Balance Testing be a part of Basic Primary Care and all Physicians should be monitoring and screening their patients for fall risk.
Sure, one more thing to do in an already busy office! The good news is there’s an easy solution. Rhomberg testing takes seconds and can safe a life. Please refer to our Rhomberg Guidelines for Test Protocol and Norms.
Let’s work together so our patients will learn to call before they fall!
