Preventing Falls Among Older Adults

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Preventing Falls Among Older Adults
WHAM
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WHAM

• What risks are observed on scene?
• How can we keep from coming back?
• Action to take to prevent future injuries
• Materials/messages to leave behind

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Falls Among Older Adults

• An older adult dies every hour because of a fall
• Greatest cause of injury and injury
  hospitalizations in US and Washington State
• Those who fall are 2-3 times more likely to fall
  again
• Falls are a major threat to the health and
  independence of older adults

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Older Adult Fall Risk Factors

• Chronic health conditions
• Physical functional impairments
• Medication alcohol use
• Environmental hazards

Fall risk increases with the number of risk
factors present
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ABCs of Why Older Adults Fall (usually more
than one risk factor is present)

• Age, Ambulatory status, Assistive device use (or
  need)
• Age gt 65, 75, or 85?
• Able to stand up from a chair without using their
  arms? (indicative of lower extremity
  strength/joint function)
• Able to stand, walk 8-10 feet, turn around and
  sit down without assistance of another person?
• Balance
• Self assessment of balance correlates with
  objective balance assessment
• Can patient stand on 1 foot for 10 seconds
  without any type of support?
• Vision and hearing status intact? (vision /or
  hearing deficits weaken balance)
• Chronic Conditions Cognition
• More than 3 chronic conditions? (arthritis,
  diabetes, hypertension, etc) also dementia
• Drugs
• Medication (prescription OTC) and/or alcohol
  usage in previous 1-24 hrs?
• Cardiovascular, antidepressant major
  tranquilizer meds increase fall risk
• Environment Exercise Level
• Lighting status, tripping obstacles /hazards in
  or outside home? (includes pets, steps, ladders)

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What risks are observed on scene?

• You are on-scene with a 78-year old female who
  was found on the floor by a neighbor. She is
  uninjured and only needs help to a chair. She
  says she accidentally tripped and didnt have
  the strength to get herself up.

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How can we keep from coming back?
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Action to take to prevent further injuries

• Make appropriate recommendations based on your
  observations
• Remove or secure loose rugs
• Recommend a handrail that extends the length of
  the stairs
• Advise patient to wear sturdy shoes with non-slip
  soles (not athletic shoes)
• Encourage patient to talk to healthcare provider
  about
• prescription drug review
• strength, balance and flexibility exercises
• vision screening
• falls risk assessment

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Materials to leave behind

• Utilize WHAM folder from rig
• CDC Check for Safety booklet
• CDC What You Can Do To Prevent Falls booklet
• Washington Poison Center Prevention Treatment
  Guide for older adults
• Dial 2-1-1 (local referrals for assistance)
• Medical history form to post on fridge, if
  available from your department

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Further info on Older Adult Falls

• Join the Pierce County Falls Prevention Coalition
  (253-627-5144)
• Links
• CDC Senior Falls Prevention Toolkit--www.cdc.gov/
  ncipc/duip/fallsmaterial.htm
• NorthWest Orthopaedic Institute--
• www.nwoi.org

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WHAM developed by Central Pierce Fire
RescueCity of DuPont Fire DepartmentGig Harbor
Fire Medic OneSafe Kids Pierce
CountyTacoma-Pierce County Health Dept.
Technical Assistance from NorthWest
Orthopaedic Institute
Funding fromWest Region EMS Trauma Care
Council