Fall Risk Prevention

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Fall risk is a sensitive indicator to health care. According to the CDC, it is a leading cause of accidental death in the United States (CDC, 2010) and it is common among older people (Tinetti et al., 2008). This paper will discuss the intersectionalities behind falls, the research in place accompanied by solutions, and my thoughts on the matter.
Primary causes to falls are multiple risk factors. The higher amount of risk factors, the greater likelihood of one falling (CDC, 2010). Health care providers can reduce falls by removing risk factors. These factors are categorized in two categories: intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic accounts for individual physical aspects and within the body factors. Extrinsic looks at the environment outside body.
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Tinetti et al. (2010) argues, to combat fall risk we need to broadcast evidence and practice-change interventions to health providers about fall prevention. This may result in the adoption of effective strategies which in turn may reduce the number of falls. The foundation to this solution is the voluntary exercises and outreach proceeding the recommended strategies and practice change interventions. Clinicians were encouraged to incorporate assessments, treatments, and referrals into their practice. The research group also conducted outreach efforts to older adults in their respective centers (Tinetti et al., 2010). This influenced the adoption of such solution. This recent solution looked at fall risk through an approach to clinicians. The following solution proposes intervention. Hill et al. (2011) found falls when oriented towards older people, hold a distinct pattern. Falls become repetitive in the individual and hospital readmission occurs within an 8-month period. Though aids are given (walking aid, wheelchair, etc.), assistance is still sought out. Hill et al. propose that assistance be given with respect to activities of daily living. This will significantly reduce the likelihood of falls for patients already exhibiting high …show more content…
However, I would have to say that there are protective effects after discharge. I believe that the process of hospitalization provides a person with information. Nurses deliver precautionary measures to high risk patients, they inform and provide resources. Also, separate from discharge there are checkups and follow-ups. This is a means to document progress and see if any unsafe condition has been cleared by the patient. Falls are prevalent and the solutions in place are effective efforts. A main point touched by all the research was that prevention is most effective when looking at the root cause. As mentioned prior, the body wears as one ages but this does not always have to be the case, in other words, we can slow this aging down by strengthening our bodies and mind. If one exercises and cognitively stimulates their brain, this can reduce falls (CDC, 2010). This is a minor solution for preventative measures against falling. It is not immediate, it is a process. Overall, falls are a common occurrence that have big impact on health care. It is vital to set preventative measures in both home and hospital settings to minimize this. There are many underlying factors to falls but the main one is to make visible options and resources to the