Fall Prevention: Fall Prevention: What to Expect from What to Expect from Health Care Providers? Health Care Providers? Betsy Baum, M.D. CMD Betsy Baum, M.D. CMD Associate Professor of Internal Medicine Associate Professor of Internal Medicine NEOMED NEOMED Geriatric Consultant Aultman Hospital Geriatric Consultant Aultman Hospital Medical Director Bethany Nursing Medical Director Bethany Nursing Facility Facility Clinical Faculty, Canton Residency Clinical Faculty, Canton Residency Education Education
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Fall Prevention: What to Expect from Health Care Providers? Betsy Baum, M.D. CMD Associate Professor of Internal Medicine NEOMED Geriatric Consultant Aultman.
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Fall Prevention:Fall Prevention:What to Expect from Health What to Expect from Health Care Providers?Care Providers?
Betsy Baum, M.D. CMDBetsy Baum, M.D. CMD
Associate Professor of Internal MedicineAssociate Professor of Internal MedicineNEOMEDNEOMED
Medical Director Bethany Nursing FacilityMedical Director Bethany Nursing Facility
Clinical Faculty, Canton Residency EducationClinical Faculty, Canton Residency Education
ObjectivesObjectives
Review the AGS ( American Geriatric Review the AGS ( American Geriatric Society) Guidelines of the evidenced -Society) Guidelines of the evidenced -based fall risk assessment recommended based fall risk assessment recommended to health care providersto health care providers
Review effective interventions to prevent Review effective interventions to prevent falls and injuriesfalls and injuries
Discuss community programs that will Discuss community programs that will enhance fall prevention enhance fall prevention
Two Most Important Things Two Most Important Things to Know About Falls in the to Know About Falls in the
ElderlyElderly
Falling is a symptom Falling is a symptom notnot a a diagnosisdiagnosis
Most falls in elderly people are Most falls in elderly people are multifactorialmultifactorial
WHY SO DIFFICULT TO WHY SO DIFFICULT TO PREVENT FALLS ?PREVENT FALLS ?
SS ensory (vision, hearing), surroundingsensory (vision, hearing), surroundings
LL ost Balanceost Balance
OO steoarthritis steoarthritis
WW eak lower extremityeak lower extremity
Most Common Risk Factors for FallsMost Common Risk Factors for Falls
I I ncontinence, Insomniancontinence, Insomnia
DD rugs Dementia Depression, rugs Dementia Depression, D deficiencyD deficiency
OO ther Fallsther Falls
GG aitait
OO rthostasis, old (>80)rthostasis, old (>80)
SS ensory (vision),surroundings, ensory (vision),surroundings, shoesshoes
LL ost Balanceost Balance
OO steoarthritis steoarthritis
WW eak lower extremityeak lower extremity
Which is the Most Predictive Which is the Most Predictive of a Patient’s Fall Risk?of a Patient’s Fall Risk?
A) orthostatic hypotensionA) orthostatic hypotension
B) polypharmacyB) polypharmacy
C) history of previous fallsC) history of previous falls
D) Parkinson’s DiseaseD) Parkinson’s Disease
AGS Algorithm Suggests Full AGS Algorithm Suggests Full Office Fall Assessment if:Office Fall Assessment if:
Single Fall in last year with abnormal gaitSingle Fall in last year with abnormal gait
No falls, but difficulty with walking or No falls, but difficulty with walking or balancebalance
Two or more falls in last year even if gait Two or more falls in last year even if gait WNLWNL
Patient presents after an acute fall Patient presents after an acute fall
Fall Risk AssessmentFall Risk Assessment
I.I. Detailed historyDetailed history
II.II. Physical exam Physical exam
III.III. Functional AssessmentFunctional Assessment Observe gait and balance(Get up and go test)Observe gait and balance(Get up and go test)
Cognitive assessment Cognitive assessment
ADLs/ IADLsADLs/ IADLs
IV.IV. Lab only as indicated by I-IIILab only as indicated by I-III
V.V. Medication reviewMedication review
Timed ‘Get Up and Go’ TestTimed ‘Get Up and Go’ Test Simple test of observing a person stand Simple test of observing a person stand
up from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn around, up from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn around, walk back, and sit down again. walk back, and sit down again.
Correlates with ADLsCorrelates with ADLs
Normal person takes <10 seconds to Normal person takes <10 seconds to complete the task complete the task
Persons who take > 30 seconds are at Persons who take > 30 seconds are at increased fall risk and likely to have some increased fall risk and likely to have some dependency in ADLsdependency in ADLs
JAGS 1991;39: 142-48JAGS 1991;39: 142-48
Determine Multifactorial Fall Determine Multifactorial Fall RiskRisk
History of fallsHistory of falls
MedicationsMedications
Gait, balance and mobilityGait, balance and mobility
Visual acuityVisual acuity
Muscle strength and neurologic examMuscle strength and neurologic exam
CV exam and orthostatic BP checkCV exam and orthostatic BP check
Feet and footwearFeet and footwear
Environmental HazardsEnvironmental Hazards
Initiate Multifactorial Initiate Multifactorial Intervention Tailored to Intervention Tailored to
Individual Risks IDIndividual Risks ID Minimize medicationsMinimize medications
Tailored exercise programTailored exercise program
HPI:HPI: Medical conditions stable, difficulty living Medical conditions stable, difficulty living alone d/t mild back and knee pain, near falls, alone d/t mild back and knee pain, near falls, notes some lightheadedness mainly in the AM, notes some lightheadedness mainly in the AM, does c/o general weakness. does c/o general weakness.
Gait:Gait: flexed, decreased stride and foot flexed, decreased stride and foot clearance, does not extend rt. knee well, clearance, does not extend rt. knee well, does not grasp walker well due to tremordoes not grasp walker well due to tremor
ADLs:ADLs: needs help with dressing and bath needs help with dressing and bath
IADLs:IADLs: daughter had been assisting with daughter had been assisting with all except for meds and paying billsall except for meds and paying bills
Medications: sertraline, lorazepam, BP Medications: sertraline, lorazepam, BP medicationsmedications
Interventions for Mrs. T.Interventions for Mrs. T.
Medications rearranged: Medications rearranged: Lisinopril 40 mg continued in AM Lisinopril 40 mg continued in AM HCTZ dose decreased to 12.5mg AM HCTZ dose decreased to 12.5mg AM Amlodipine moved to PMAmlodipine moved to PM Began to taper lorazepam with AM doseBegan to taper lorazepam with AM dose Sertraline decreased from 100mg to 50mgSertraline decreased from 100mg to 50mg
PT/OT muscle strengthening and balancePT/OT muscle strengthening and balance
Acetaminophen scheduled 650 tidAcetaminophen scheduled 650 tid
Check BMP, CBC and 25 OH vitamin DCheck BMP, CBC and 25 OH vitamin D
Psychoactive medications ( including Psychoactive medications ( including sedative hypnotics, anxiolytics, sedative hypnotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, antipsychotics) should be antidepressants, antipsychotics) should be minimized or withdrawn, with appropriate minimized or withdrawn, with appropriate tapering if indicatedtapering if indicated
Reduce total number of medications or Reduce total number of medications or dose of individual medications should be dose of individual medications should be pursuedpursued
Division of Geriatric Medicine St. Louis Univ.Division of Geriatric Medicine St. Louis Univ.
Vitamin DVitamin D
The most common vitamin deficiency in The most common vitamin deficiency in older adultsolder adults
Vitamin D not only strengthens bone, but Vitamin D not only strengthens bone, but also musclesalso muscles
A number of studies have demonstrated A number of studies have demonstrated Vitamin D supplementation of at least Vitamin D supplementation of at least 800IU daily for 1 year can decrease falls 800IU daily for 1 year can decrease falls by 20 %by 20 %
BMJ 2009;339:b3692.
Other Measures to Prevent Other Measures to Prevent Orthostatic HypotensionOrthostatic Hypotension
Correct underlying cause i.e adjust Correct underlying cause i.e adjust medications, correct anemia or dehydrationmedications, correct anemia or dehydration
Drink plenty of fluidDrink plenty of fluid
Rise slowly, ankle pumps, sleep with head Rise slowly, ankle pumps, sleep with head of bed elevatedof bed elevated
Wear support stockingsWear support stockings
Caffeine with meals can help prevent Caffeine with meals can help prevent postprandial hypotensionpostprandial hypotension
Community Programs for Fall Community Programs for Fall PreventionPrevention
Develop more group exercise programs Develop more group exercise programs tailored for different levels of abilitytailored for different levels of ability
Develop community walking groups through Develop community walking groups through senior centers and health clubssenior centers and health clubs
Educate older adults on what they should Educate older adults on what they should expect from their health care provider for a expect from their health care provider for a full fall assessment riskfull fall assessment risk
Over the counter meds associated with falls Over the counter meds associated with falls and confusion TYLENOL/ADVIL PMand confusion TYLENOL/ADVIL PM