A fall risk assessment is an important part of medical examinations, especially for elderly patients. However, there are many reasons why a fall risk assessment may be needed other than for an aging patient. Falling is very common, and can cause permanent damage or even death. There are ways that you can prevent falling and treat problems related to falls.
What is a Fall Risk Assessment?
A fall risk assessment is a common medical questionnaire and assessment that a doctor uses to determine a patient’s risk of falling. There are usually two parts to a fall risk assessment: an initial screening and a set of assessment tools.
Initial Screening
A patient’s initial screening is very simple. This usually consists of a series of questions about the patient’s overall health over the past year. Some examples of questions asked during an initial screening include:
- Have you fallen in the past year?
- Are you concerned about falling?
- Do you feel unstable when walking?
Along with other relevant questions. The doctor may then rank the individual as low, moderate, or high risk for falling. This initial screening determines if the patient will need further evaluation. Usually, those with a low risk of falling will not need further assessment. Having a good doctor makes a big difference in taking a fall risk assessment.
Assessment Tools
The second part of the assessment includes an observation period where the doctor will examine the patient for balance, strength, and gait. These are simple risk factors that can be easily measured through observation. One common test is seeing how many times a patient can get up and sit down in their chair over the course of 30 seconds. This helps check a patient’s strength and balance. If a patient cannot stand up or sit down many times, this means they are at higher risk of falling. Another test that measures gait is having a patient sit down, stand up, walk 10 feet, and sit back down again. This gives a doctor a good indication of a patient’s abilities. Another test a doctor may use is seeing how long a patient can stand with their feet close together, with one foot partially in front of the other, with one foot behind the other, and standing on one foot. If the patient cannot stand on one foot for 5 seconds or stay in the other positions for 10 seconds, they may be at higher risk for a fall.
Morse Fall Scale
Many doctors and nurses use a form of fall assessment called the Morse fall scale or MFS to determine a patient’s fall risk. It usually takes less than 3 minutes to rate a patient and is easy to use. However, it is not an extensive test and is only used for a minor fall risk assessment. The MFS uses six different questions and a scale to determine a patient’s fall risk, specifically in the hospital. It asks about the following things:
- Has the patient fallen in the past three months?
- Do they have a secondary diagnosis (i.e. more than one health issue)?
- Does the patient use ambulatory aids such as a cane, walker, or furniture?
- Does the patient have an IV or heparin lock attached to them?
- Does the patient have a normal gait?
- What is the patient’s mental status?
Then the patient is scored, which results in their fall risk. If they score from 0-25, they are low risk. 26-50 means that the patient is moderately at risk and needs some standard fall prevention in place. 51+ means that the patient is high risk and will need serious prevention.
Complications from Falling
The reason why fall risk assessments are so important is that a fall can cause serious complications. The CDC recommends that every person over the age of 65 should have a fall risk assessment completed once per year. About one-third of all adults over the age of 65 falls at least once a year, and there are so many dangers that come with that. This can range from bruises to broken bones, and unfortunately, even death. Most recently in the news, Ivana Trump passed away as a result of a fall in her home. She was only 73 years old. However, her close friend stated that Ivana was not feeling well and had trouble walking before her fall. There are ways to prevent falls and protect yourself from falling. Many people want to feel independent and feel that they do not need help. This is why a fall risk assessment is essential for patients as they age, so they can avoid serious injury.
Fall Prevention Interventions
It is normal to need more aid and assistance in walking at a certain age, and lowering your risk at home is important. Even a simple change like wearing safe, medically approved shoes may lower your risk of falling at home. Evaluating your home for potential risks can prompt important changes like installing handrails or increasing the amount of light in your home. Removing fall risks like loose items or tripping hazards like cords can make a tremendous difference.
Physical Therapy
If you are at moderate or high risk for falling, physical therapy can be a great way to reduce your risk. Balance training is a part of physical therapy that can help patients regain muscle strength for balance. General exercises can help strengthen the legs and core to help the body balance and walk more safely. There are many ways that physical therapy and exercise can benefit a person with fall risk. However, a physical therapist can help ensure that the person who is at risk will be safe during their exercises and not fall as they are working on strengthening.
Make an Appointment
If you are over the age of 65 and have not had a fall risk assessment, make an appointment today. There are so many ways to improve your life and not have to worry about falling and injuring yourself. You may also be at risk and not even know it yet. Prepare yourself for the future and your best years ahead!
