Important notice
This flow is educational and does not replace an institutional protocol, geriatric, physical therapy or health care team assessment, nor a clinical decision. Do not use this content to prescribe exercise or adjust medicines on your own. For urgent signs after a fall, seek care immediately.
Quick summary
- Observe fall history, environment, medicines and mobility.
- Persistent warning signs call for professional assessment.
- A fall with injury, severe pain or confusion requires immediate medical care.
- This flow organizes observations; it does not replace professional assessment or prescribe care.
Purpose
Help caregivers, families and professionals observe fall risk factors in older adults and organize this information to support professional assessment and a prevention plan.
Audience and scope
- Intended for older adults, family caregivers and professionals working with older adult health.
- Covers day-to-day risk factor observation and a basic review of the home environment.
- Does not cover emergency care after a fall with injury — in those cases, seek immediate medical assessment — nor prescribe exercise or adjust medicines.
In this protocol
Risk factors to observe
Observe falls in the last 12 months, fear of falling, weakness, dizziness, difficulty standing up from a chair or walking, use of multiple medicines and vision problems.
People with prior stroke, Parkinson disease, frailty, sarcopenia or recent hospitalization deserve closer attention.
Educational flow: environment and routine review
1. History: ask about recent falls, near-falls and fear of falling, and record frequency and circumstances.
2. Environment: check lighting, loose rugs, cords in walkways, stairs without handrails and the absence of grab bars in the bathroom.
3. Medicines: watch for dizziness, drowsiness or imbalance associated with multiple medicines, sedatives or blood pressure medicines, without changing the dose on your own.
4. Mobility: observe balance, strength to stand and walk, and the use — or need — of support such as a cane or walker.
5. Recording: gather the observations on history, environment, medicines and mobility to bring to professional assessment.
Warning signs
Recurrent falls, frequent near-falls, frequent dizziness, progressive weakness and growing difficulty walking or standing up are warning signs that justify professional assessment.
When to stop and seek care
Seek immediate medical care for a fall with apparent injury, severe pain, loss of consciousness, sudden confusion, or inability to move or bear weight on a limb.
These signs indicate immediate risk and should not wait for another observation or another round of this flow.
Limitations
This flow does not replace geriatric, physical therapy or health care team assessment, and does not define a diagnosis.
Do not use observations from this flow to prescribe exercise, adjust medicines, or decide on your own about assistive devices.