PHCS Fall Program
It is import an to know some of the risk factors that can contribute to falling. Some examples are:
- Problems with vision, hearing, cognition, or numb feet
- Environmental hazards such as unsafe walkways and stairways, poor lighting, and slippery bathtub and shower areas
- Muscle weakness , decreased balance, difficulty walking, and struggles moving around
- Postural hypotension, which is an unexpected drop in blood pressure causing dizziness
Personal Health Care Services will assess the safety of the home and help create a unique program for our patients designed to eliminate fall risks!
Assessment of Fall Risk in the Home
Your Personal Health Care Services, LLC clinician will assess your steadiness of gait, items in your home that may act as fall hazards and medications that may affect your balance.
Education/Interventions to Prevent Falls
Clinicians may make recommendations to enhance your safety in preventing falls by discussing with you the placement of throw rugs/bathroom mats and any other items identified as potential fall hazards. They also may suggest adding a bell to the collar of your cat and/or dog in order to help you locate your pet and prevent tripping over them.
Speak Up About Falls
According to the Joint Commission, one out of three adults age 65 and older gets injured from falls every year. But anyone can fall. Making simple changes can mean a big difference when it comes to preventing falls. Watch the latest video from the Speak Up gang, and learn how to reduce your risk of falling!
Watch the following video to learn more about fall prevention: reduce your risk of falls http://www.jointcommission.org/multimedia/speak-up-reduce-your-risk-of-falling/
Below are some resources to educate yourself about this common fixable issue!
Fall Program Resources:
- The National Guideline Clearinghouse (enter “fall prevention” in the search field)
- The Department of Veterans Affairs
- Guideline for the prevention of falls in older persons. American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society, and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001 May;49(5):664-72.
- Gillespie LD, Gillespie WJ, Robertson MC, Lamb SE, Cumming RG, Rowe BH. Interventions for preventing falls in elderly people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD000340. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000340.