Fall Prevention Research Paper

While about 5 percent of adults over the age of 65 live in nursing facilities, they account for nearly 20 percent of fall-related deaths in this age group. Up to 20 percent of residents who fall sustain serious injuries that can lead to a decline in functional ability and mobility impairment. The Best Practice Guidelines consist of broad principles upon which standard procedures for individual health services can be based. The guidelines aim intended to assist service providers in developing and implementing standard policies and procedures in the area of falls prevention. Best practice guidelines can be successfully implemented only where there is adequate planning, resources, organizational and administrative support, as well as appropriate

The elderly in long-term care are predisposed to falling and can fall from various reasons. Examples of Predisposing factors are, unsteady gait and balance, weak muscles, poor vision, medications, and dementia, poor lighting, loose rugs, poorly fitting shoes, floor clutter, and beds or toilets lacking handrails or bars may cause falls. Fall prevention starts before a fall actually occurs. A comprehensive falls risk assessment must be done on the first day of admissions, and this can help identify a patient’s risk for falling, and corrective measures can be put in place in advance, for example, alarms. fall risk assessments should also be completed when a patient is transferred to a new unit or when level of care changes. risks assessment should focus on a patient’s history of falls, medication use and comorbidities, and should include a comprehensive physical exam evaluating mobility, joint function, muscle strength, visual activity and more. Once completed, the patient’s care team must put in place a care plan that carefully addresses each risk factor identified in the assessment.