Fall Prevention

Tele-Continuing Nurse Education
conducted by GeriCare@North
Topic: Fall Prevention
Date: 10 Sep 2018
Speaker: SN Merlyn Soliven Eslao
The Lentor Residence

Administrative
• Send your nursing home attendance and any feedback to:
– ktph.gericare@ktph.com.sg
– Attendance with SNB No. Within 1 week
• Next Tele-CNE Presentation will be:
– Topic: Fluid overload
– 8 Oct 2018 @ 2.30 – 3.30 pm
– Presenter: Villa Francis Home for the Aged

Falls are largely
preventable!

 Definition of a fall
 Fear of falling
 Risk factors for
falling
 Action steps to
reduce YOUR fall
risk

 Landing on the ground
or some other lower
surface when you
didn’t intend to be
there
 Includes slips, trips,
etc.

 History of previous falls
 Poor Visual acuity
 Receiving medications associated with increased risk of falling
 History of previous seizure
 Dizziness/Vertigo
 Postural Hypotension
 Cognitive Impairment
 Urinary incontinence/frequency
 Bowel incontinence/frequency
 Impaired/Deterioration of ADL’s
 Impaired mobility/gait
 On mobility rehabilitation program
 Needing physical restraints

 Physical risk factors: Changes in
the body that increase the risk for a
fall
 Behavioral risk factors: Things we
do or don’t do that increase our fall
risk
 Environmental risk factors:
Hazards in our home or community
Most falls result from a number of risk factors:

You CAN change You CAN’T change
 Physical inactivity
 Home environment
 Vision
 Medication Use
 Fear of falling
 Social isolation
 Weakness
 Improper use of
assistive devices
 Age
 Gender

 Exercise to improve
balance and strength
 Have your doctor or
pharmacist review
medicines
 Have your vision
checked
 Make your home safer

Exercise Recommendations
 Talk to your doctor
before starting an
exercise program
 Begin with PT or fall
prevention classes
 Stick with it!

Nursing Home Safety
Evaluation
 Identify and eliminate fall
hazards in your nursing
home
 An occupational therapist
can help identify safety
issues and solutions

› Side effects may make you
dizzy
› Medication changes can
increase fall risk
› Review medications each year
› Be sure you can read your
labels

• Having annual eye exams
after age 50 can help
identify vision problems.
• Wearing multifocal lenses
may blur or distort your
vision looking down.
• Removing cataract(s) may
reduce fall risk.
,

 Check blood pressure
regularly.
 Some blood pressure
medications increase fall
risk;
 Refer to your doctor.

 Dementia
 Diabetes
 Arthritis
 Stroke
 Multiple Sclerosis
(MS)
 Parkinson’s
Disease
 Chronic Pain
 Depression
 Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease
(COPD)

 Change in your
medications
 Illness or infection
 Pain
 Lack of sleep
 Being sad or worried
 Reduced activity level
 Move to new home
 Change in use of cane or
walker

• Pharmacist & Doctor — review medications for
side effects that may cause you to fall
• Occupational Therapist — home assessment
and recommendations to make your home safer
• Physical Therapist — help with physical activity,
balance, strength, and moving safely

 Call bell/telephone is at bed side
 Lowered bed level for those with high risk of falls
 Thing's are arranged within reach
 Floors are free of spills and excess equipment
 Electric and extension cords are out of the way
 Residents with high risk of falling are in rooms close to nurse station
 Frequent checks are made on residents with poor judgement/memory
 Barrier’s are use to prevent wandering
 Wheelchairs, commodes, walking aids are in good working condition
 Residents is kept involved in meaningful activity
 Be cautious when turning or going through doors
 Safety check is made after family visit
 Never leave resident unattended
 Close observation

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