Relationship Between Social Networks And The Risk For Falls

Therefore, psycho-social vulnerability and social isolation were significant factors which enhanced both mental and physical functional vulnerability leading to frail older adults. Thus, the fall in social support may affect psychological and physical vulnerability, while social vulnerability has a potential to predict an increase of frailty in the

Current literature has exposed many risk factors for falls. There are both intrinsic risk factors and extrinsic risk factors. Intrinsic risk factors include changes that come with age, such as gait issues, urinary incontinence, and fear of falling. Extrinsic risk factors include those that are related to the physical environment such as improper use of assistive devices and poor floor surfaces. No matter the type of risk factor, it is crucial to conduct a risk assessment when trying to prevent falls from occurring. Pearson and Coburn (2011) found that identifying risk factor for falls will help identify appropriate prevention strategies. Fall risk assessments help determine Talk about

Since falls are a frequent obstruction to independent living among elderly persons, there has been a growing consciousness of the incidence of falls which has led to the development of a lot of community-based fall prevention programs for older adults. Yet, the potential impact of these programs is reduced by the lack of research on factors that may influence older persons' decisions to accept or reject fall prevention behaviors. In an exploratory descriptive study done by Aminzadeh & Edwards, (1998) a focus group approach was used to draw out qualitative data on seniors' views on the use of assistive devices in fall prevention. Four focus group interviews were carried out with a convenience sample of thirty community-living older adults in Ottawa, Canada. "The interviews documented

Anyone is at risk for a fall, however, falls are especially concerning in the older adult population.

In DC, community based fall prevention programs have been rising to address falls but fall related incident, injuries and the cost has continuously been rising among elderly people (Costello & Edelstein, 2008). In the study conducted by Berland et al. (2012), showed that in home health, not viewing patient safety as primary prevention, lack of investigation causing fall and frailty of elderly adult have been some factors contributing to falls in home health. Falls negatively impacts an individual living in their home by causing them physical, emotional problem, giving rise to additional cost by losing workdays and income.

The Prevention and Public Health Fund’s Fall Prevention Program aims to implement programs that have been proven to reduce the incidence of falls in older adults and adults with disabilities. It also promotes the importance of fall prevention strategies and provides education on the risk of falls and how to prevent them (U.S Department of Health

The following research question was addressed: What is the effect of falls in the older adults while hospitalized? CINAHL Complete and Google scholar databases were used to search for relevant quantitative research articles. CINAHL Complete was searched using words like “falls in older adults while inpatient”, “impact of falls in older adults while hospitalized”, falls in older adults”, “and falls in the hospital amongst older adults“, ” fall impact in older adults while hospitalized”. Google scholar databases was searched using keywords such as “impact of falls in hospitalized older adults”, “Fall in the older adults during hospitalization”, “effects of fall on older adults while hospitalized”. Quantitative research article published in English, where any author is a nurse, and adult subjects were analyzed; dates of publications for all articles were limited to the years between 2011–2016. The University of Texas at Arlington’s library site titled finding quantitative and qualitative research was used to evaluate the qualities of the research article to ensure quantitative articles were utilized. Research articles that were utilized were those that involve interventions focused on effects of falls in the older adults population while hospitalized. Multifactorial fall prevention programs, environmental, educational

My target population for this project was geared towards the elderly group. "About 40% of this age group living at home will fall at least once each year, and about 1 in 40 of them will be hospitalized. Of those admitted to the hospital after a fall, only about half will be alive a year later."(Rubenstein, 2006) This group although not the highest incidence of falls but rather the highest susceptibility to injury from falls.

Falls in the elderly is a significant health problem, which can lead to severe issues such as morbidity and mortality. The topic of falls within the elderly was chosen so that the many interventions, risks, and awareness strategies can be further explored within this paper. Throughout clinical practice I was intrigued by the number of patients that have fallen and the strategies that health care organizations take to prevent falls. However, I was concerned by the lack of awareness in the community related to falls in the elderly. The topic of falls in the elderly is multifactor in the sense that there are many intersectional factors that can result in falls. The significant impact of falls in the elderly and the consequences that falls have

Fall risk assessments tools, which help to identify those patients at risk of falling, play a vital role in reducing the number of falls. The basis for this assessment is that if patients at high fall risk can be

“RNAO Falls Prevention CPG” has been developed and frequently reviewed by a panel of nurses and other health professions with expertise and interest in falls and falls related injuries in the older population (Brouwers, et al., 2010, P.18; RNAO, 2011, P.13 ). In addition, it introduces some general principles indicating the authors’ intention of considering the views and preferences of the target population: “The client’s perspective, individual desires and needs are central to the application of the guideline; The over-arching principle that guides the intervention choices is the principle of maintaining the highest quality of life possible while striving for a safe environment and practices. Risk taking, autonomy, and self-determination are supported, respected, and considered in the plan of interventions; Individuals, their significant other(s) and the care team engage in assessment and interventions through a collaborative process” (RNAO, 2011, P.8

A fall is a lethal event that results from an amalgamation of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors which predispose an elderly person to the incident (Naqvi et al 2009). The frequency of hospital admission due to falls for older people in Australia, Canada, UK and Northern Ireland range from 1.6 to 3.0 per 10 000 population (WHO 2012). The prevalence of senior citizen’s falls in acute care settings varies widely and the danger of falling rises with escalating age or frailty. Falls of hospitalized older adults are one of the major patient safety issues in terms of morbidity, mortality, and decreased socialization

Risk factors for falls are categorized by intrinsic or extrinsic (Tzeng, & Yin, 2009). According to Tzeng and Yin (2008), intrinsic factors, referring to the patient themselves, are related to their health status and possibly associated with age-related changes: previous falls, reduced vision, unsteady gait, musculoskeletal system deficits, mental status deficits, acute illness, and chronic illness. Extrinsic factors are involved in the patient’s environment, including medications, lack of support equipment, furniture, bathroom designs, small patient rooms, poor lighting, and improper use of and inadequate assistive devices. Tzeng & Yin (2008; 2009) focused on the extrinsic risk factors for the basis of their studies.

Falls is the leading cause of injuries among older adult; however, falls should not be an inevitable result of aging. Falls affect not only on an older individual’s independence and well-being but also personal and the nation financial. It is important that older adults are aware of how to prevent themselves from falling. Health care providers play a crucial role in falls prevention. Providers should perform gait and balance screening older adults 65 years and older for falls risk at least once a years and should pay more particular attention to individuals who have history of falling. Additionally, older adults have a higher tendency of taking multiple medications, providers should review their older patients’ medication regimen periodically because some medication can increase risk for falls. Exercise is found to have a positive impact on preventing falls. Providers should encourage older patients to start exercise program to increase strength and improve body balance.

Internet Citation: Tool 3H: Morse Fall Scale for Identifying Fall Risk Factors. Content last reviewed January 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/hospital/fallpxtoolkit/fallpxtk-tool3h.html