Geriatric EM: Falls Can Be Sentinel Events

Unfortunately, while there are many tools to screen for fall risk, none have been validated in the ED.

 Trauma Falls – Pearls & Pitfalls for Special Populations

While a simple trip-and-fall may not prompt an initial inquiry, multiple falls or first time falls without a clear mechanism should raise a red flag.

Bracing for the Falls of an Aging Nation

As the population ages and people live longer in bad shape, the number of older Americans who fall and suffer serious, even fatal, injuries is soaring.

Can an Emergency Department–Initiated Intervention Prevent Subsequent Falls and Health Care Use in Older Adults? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Geriatric Acute and Post-acute Fall Prevention, a postfall, in-ED, multidisciplinary intervention with pharmacists and physical therapists, reduced 6-month ED encounters in 2 urban EDs. The intervention could provide a model of care to other health care systems aiming to reduce costly and burdensome fall-related events in older adults.

Explainer: why does our balance get worse as we grow older?

All of us have taken a tumble at some point in our lives. But as we grow older, the risks associated with falling over become greater: we lose physical strength and bone density, our sense of balance deteriorates and we take longer to recover from a fall. Alarmingly, this process begins around the age of 25. The reasons for this are varied and complex, but by understanding them better, we can find ways to mitigate the effects of old age.

Falls and injuries are a persistent public health problem in long-term care

The underlying cause is most often incorrect weight shifting, followed by tripping. What’s particularly shocking is that in close to 40 per cent of events, residents sustain impact to their heads.

Falls are taking a huge and rising toll on elderly brains

It’s well known that falls among the elderly are common. Older people are more likely to have impaired vision, dizziness and other de-stabilizing health problems, and are less likely than younger people to have the strength and agility to find their feet once they begin to lose their balance. Elderly people are suffering concussions and other brain injuries from falls at what appear to be unprecedented rates, according to a new report from U.S. government researchers.

Falls, Injuries and Anxiety: Breaking a Vicious Cycle

Living with the fear of falling also likely increases feelings of anxiety, which could lead a physician to prescribe anti-anxiety medication, such as Xanax. Xanax, along with other benzodiazepines, has been the focus of recent studies that have demonstrated that these types of drugs cause higher risks of falls and dementia.

From Athletes to the Elderly: The Science of Trips and Falls

New research into how we maintain our balance could help athletes and prevent falls among the elderly.

Geriatric Trauma 2

Assess for intrinsic/extrinsic factors for falls and which ones are modifiable: Intrinsic factors: medical illness (Parkinson’s, stroke, diabetes etc.), impaired vision and hearing, age related changes in musculature, gait, and postural reflexes. Extrinsic factors: medications (sedatives & hypnotics, antihypertensives, diuretics, hypoglycemics), improper/lack of assistive devices for ambulation, environmental hazards (lightning, uneven ground, furniture, household clutter).

Home is where the greatest accident risk is

If you want to avoid busy A&E units then you should shun the trampoline, discourage the kids from putting Lego up their nose, and be rather more careful getting something out of the loft.

How to break a fall, not a hip

When an elderly person falls, the result can be calamitous: hip fractures are common and serious. But help may be at hand. American researchers have designed a kinder, gentler flooring which is firm enough for people to walk on but buckles if they fall, absorbing the shock of impact.

Most Tricycle Deaths Happen When Children Fall into Swimming Pools

Tricycle accidents requiring a visit to the emergency room peak when children reach age 2, a new study finds.

Researchers have developed sensors that can detect which senior citizens are at risk of falling

What if you could stop accidents before they happened? Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed sensor systems that allow health care professionals to remotely monitor senior citizens around the clock, accurately predicting their chances of falling.

The Apple Watch Can Now Sense When You Fall. This App Says It Can Do More

One of the Apple Watch Series 4’s most noteworthy features is one you hope to never use: fall detection. After sensing a person has fallen, the device checks if the person actually fell, if he is OK, and if he needs emergency services. It’s the 21st-century version of Life Alert but built into a popular piece of hardware.

The Overprotected Kid

A preoccupation with safety has stripped childhood of independence, risk taking, and discovery—without making it safer. A new kind of playground points to a better solution.

Tips for Reducing Falls in Your ED Via Process and Design Changes

Process and design changes exist that can reduce the risk of falls for emergency department patients. One important process change is identifying patients who are fall risks; checklists at intake can help identify them.

Too Many Older Adults Are Falling, Endangering Themselves And Costing Billions

Falls not only are killing more older adults, they are costing the nation billions of dollars. According to one study, the US spent $50 billion in 2015 on falls. Overall, hospital and post-acute costs for traumatic injury (frequently falls) was more than costs for strokes and heart attacks combined.

What should be done for Emergency Department fall patients?

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency visits in older adults, translating into an estimated 3 million ED visits and 32,000 deaths from fall-related injuries annually in the United States. Falls subsequently result in diminished functional ability and higher risk for future falls and mortality.

Why Falls Should Be Part Of The Doctor-Patient And National Conversation For Older Persons

It’s important to realize that falls among older persons, with their staggering physical, emotional as well as economic consequences, have the potential to impact not only patients, but all members of a family.

Why older people get osteoporosis and have falls

There are many reasons older adults are susceptible to falls. These include side effects of some medications, vision impairments and less ability to prevent tripping over as balance, muscle mass and strength decline with age. The risk of fracture due to poor bones increases with age, and this is further enhanced by osteoporosis.