Need Help With Falls

Having Problems or Concerns about In-Home Falls

A standard fall risk assessment determines a person’s fall risk or potential for falls. Usually, a fall risk assessment categorizes an individual according to low, moderate, or high risk.  However, a “Person to Environment Fit Assessment” goes beyond identifying the potential for falls. The “Person to Environment Fit Assessment” detects environment risks and education topics for clients and family members on important issues that compromise home safety, fall reduction, and actionable ways to make modifications to improve the home setting. The “Person to Environment Fit Assessment” supports “healthy aging” achieved by balancing individuals’ functional abilities, age-appropriate capabilities, and the influences of their surrounding environments.

A “fall” is an event in which an individual unintentionally comes to rest on the ground, floor, or other level, but not because of an overwhelming external force (e.g., being pushed by someone}. The event may be witnessed, reported, or presumed when a person is found on the floor or ground, and can occur anywhere. A “near miss” which is also considered a fall, is when a person would have fallen if someone else had not caught the resident from doing so.

The World Health Organization (2021) states fall prevention strategies should emphasize education, training, creating safer environments, prioritizing fall-related policies to reduce risk.

• Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide.
• Each year an estimated 684 000 individuals die from falls globally of which over 80% are in low- and middle-income countries.
• Adults older than 60 years of age suffer the greatest number of fatal falls.
  
  

 Approximately one-third of adults age65 years or older fall in their home each year, resulting in injury, long-term disability, and premature loss of independence. By the year 2030, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the cost related to these kinds of injuries to be nearly $100 Billion annually. Falls are the most common reason for hospital and nursing home admission. One misunderstood residual effect of a fall is the psychological anxiety of post fall trauma. Fear of falling has negative consequences. Those who fall are more likely to become fearful of future falls. In one study, 80% of elderly women reported preferring death over a “bad” hip fracture that may cause them to be admitted to a nursing home (Salkeld, Cameron, Cumming, et al., 2000). To minimize the perception of fall injury in your loved one, reach out to Personal Touch Care and Service. People who have chosen to remain at home will benefit from a “Person to Environment Fit Assessment” to help recognize fall risk hazards and choose appropriate environmental interventions.

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