A nationwide survey found that older Americans are concerned about potential injuries and costs that occur with falls. Specifically, 71% of older Americans are worried about falling while 42% have had...
Sometimes a fall is more than a fall
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Mar 05, 2024
Physical therapists have a tool belt loaded with testing and instrumentation used to determine fall risk. Some are simple and take a few seconds, some are complex and extremely expensive. We have...
Women have lower risk for falling when they are active, study shows
By
Kristen Fischer
Feb 01, 2024
When older women engaged in leisure physical activity and stayed within recommended time parameters, they had a lower odds for falls, according to a new report.
Follow-up visits after falls are lacking, study finds
By
Kristen Fischer
Nov 22, 2023
Experiencing a fall can be traumatic enough, but a new study showed that what happens afterward is equally challenging. In short, not everyone who is injured in a fall receives the care they need after...
Falling by the wayside
By
Steven Levenson
Oct 24, 2023
This month’s column invokes several previous columns, one about medications and the other about knowing if we know what we don’t know. A recent medical journal article concluded that falls in...
CDC: In 2021, estimated fatal falls among older adults rose to highest in 20 years
By
Kristen Fischer
Sep 05, 2023
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released new data on falls, giving more insight into how many people are falling, and getting injured or dying as a result of taking spills.
Remotely monitoring residents with dementia in nursing homes can prevent falls, study finds
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 23, 2023
When healthcare workers remotely monitor residents with dementia in nursing homes, it works, according to a new study. The team found that remote monitoring — with some on-site help — can help them...
Falls prevention through strategic design
By
Samuel Drake
Jan 05, 2023
Fall prevention is a constant concern for both the aging population and those caring for them. Not only can falls result in major injuries or even fatalities for the resident, but escalating fall rates...
Who most fears falling? Older women who live alone, study reveals
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 06, 2022
Clinical factors such as hypertension and stroke were also linked to distress about potential falls in 70% of the surveyed study participants.
Reducing liability exposures with video
By
Guy Fragala, Ph.D.
Mar 10, 2022
Falls among the elderly are a major problem within healthcare facilities, and this severe problem requires attention. Some proposed technological solutions include optical sensors or cameras linked to...