Falls and older people: understanding why people fall
Alison While
Abstract
Falls are common among older people and a major public health challenge. This article describes why falls are more common among older people, the potential causes of falls and what assessments should be undertaken to inform preventive interventions. District nurses are well placed to contribute to the understanding of why an older person has had a fall as part of a falls risk assessment.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineOlder peopleFall preventionPsychological interventionGerontologyFalls in older adultsSuicide preventionInjury preventionOccupational safety and healthPublic healthHuman factors and ergonomicsPoison controlNursingEnvironmental healthPathologyBalance, Gait, and Falls PreventionCerebral Palsy and Movement DisordersInjury Epidemiology and Prevention