Geriatric Groups Update Fall Prevention Guidelines

Fall prevention guidelines are getting an update from the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatric Society.  The group recently released an updated set of guidelines to prevent falls from its original publication in 2001.  The updated guidelines are based upon observations by doctors and health professionals and focus on prevention strategies to minimize risk.  The program focuses more effort on assessments of the elderly and intervention strategies designed to modify environments and behaviors in order to lessen the chances of a fall happening.  These intervention strategies focus on key, common sense areas that include:

• Minimization of Medications
• Customized Exercise Programs
• Treating Vision Impairment
• Managing health factors such as postural hypotension, heart rate and rhythm abnormalities
• Footwear problems
• Modification of the home environment

For more information visit:  AGS Clinical Practice Guideline :  Prevention of Falls in Older Persons (2010)