Fall Risk Essay

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As people age, risk of falls become common and it can occur while performing activity of daily living such as taking a shower or going to the bathroom. Many older people trip over electric wire, their own pet, and sometimes they blame the environment for their falls. At the hospital, nurses assist clients who have a history of falls to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. In addition, clients do not want to be identified as falls risk even if they have history of falls, and have fallen during the last six months because of the negative image that comes with being labeled as the type of person who falls. In clients over 65 year old (P), how nurses labeling older people falls risk threat their identity as individual (I) compare to those …show more content…

Older people consider themselves not a fall risk compare to other older people because they perceive fall risk as irresponsible and not able to perform any activity without falling. Once older people are considered a fall risk, it affects their identity as a person and the way they are seen in the society. Older people want to be seen as responsible and physical competent, and someone who is not fall risk (Dollard, Barton, Newbury, & Turnbull, 2011). The study took a place in Adelaide, South Australia with 65 year old participants who had experienced falls, and knew friends who had fallen within the last six months. Some of the participants who live alone are at higher risk of falls than those who live with their spouse. Staff members from Saint Vincent de Paul Society were also a part of the research, and they provide home visits and financial assistance to older people. The participants signed informed consent prior to the research, record the interview, and University of Adelaide’s School of Psychological Human Ethics approved of the research (Dollard, et al., 201). Older people also linked falls to the aging process and accidentally tripping over wire at …show more content…

Falls risk are a problem for older people because it exposes their vulnerability. Nurses can use the information from the article to promote quality practice for older people by understanding why falls would be negative stereotype relate to aging. The aging process is extremely difficult stage for older people and they are sensitive to everything, so nurses can use the article to avoid the word falls risk to refer to older people’s identity as individual. Nurses also can make sure they allow older people to perform activity independent, keep things in reach, and assistance them to go to the bathroom at night. That way they can still feel competent and responsible, even though they might be falls

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