Falls in Elderly Flashcards
1
Q
What are risk factors for a patient to fall?
A
- Lower limb muscle weakness
- Vision problems
- balance/gait disturbance
- polypharmacy
- incontinence
- > 65
- depression
- postural hypotension
- Arthritis in lower limbs
- Cognitive impairment
- psychoactive drugs
2
Q
What should all patients ideally have to reduce the risk of falls in hospital?
A
Falls risk assessment
3
Q
What is important to guage in a falls history?
A
- Where was the patient?
- When did they fall?
- Did anyone see the patient fall?
- What happened?
- Why do they think they fell?
- Have they ever fallen before?
- Systems review
- PMHx
- SHx
- Medication review
4
Q
What medications cause postural hypotension?
A
- Nitrates
- Diuretics
- Antidepressants
- Beta-blockers
- L-Dopa
- ACEi
- Anticholinergic medication
5
Q
When should a MDT assessment by made of a patient over 65?
A
- > 2 falls in last 12month
- Fall required medical treatment
- Poor peformance or failure to complete 180 test or timed up and go test
