Fall risk screening in the elderly: A comparison of the minimal chair height standing ability test and 5-repetition sit-to-stand test

Objective: We investigated whether an in-hospital intervention consisting of fall risk screening and tailored advice could prompt patients to take preventive action. Method: Patients (≥70) attending the emergency department and nephrology outpatient clinic in a Dutch hospital were screened. Patients at high risk received tailored advice based on their individual risk factors. Three months after screening, preventive steps taken by patients were surveyed. Results: Two hundred sixteen patients were screened. Of the 83 patients completing a 3-month follow-up, 51.8% took action; among patients who received tailored advice ( n = 20), 70% took action. Patients most often adhered to advice on improving muscle strength and undergoing vision checkups (20%). Tailored advice and a reported low quality of life were associated with consulting a health care provider. Discussion: Patients at risk in these settings are inclined to take action after screening. However, they do not always adhere to the tailored prevention advice.

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Creating a Safer Patient Room Environment: The Contribution of Patient Bed Height

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care ◽

10.1177/2327857921101163 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 180-184

Author(s):

Dorothy Taylor ◽

Janice Morse ◽

Andrew Merryweather

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patient ◽

Fall Risk ◽

The Elderly ◽

Lower Leg ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Leg Length ◽

Patient Room ◽

Patient Falls ◽

Sit To Stand ◽

Bed Height

Elderly patient falls are expensive and may cause serious harm. Studies have identified the sit-to-stand-and-walk (STSW) task as the task where the greatest number of elderly patient falls occur. There is a great need to identify the particular movement and environmental conditions that lead to these elderly patient falls. This study begins to address this gap by evaluating the elderly patient during self-selected hospital bed egress. Using an observed fall risk episode (FRE) as a fall proxy, statistically significant parameters were identified which include bed height, pausing prior to initiating gait, level of fall risk, and Stand phase. Low bed height was identified as the least safe bed height. Patient-specific bed height (PSBH) using the patient’s lower leg length (LLL) is recommended. In addition, suggested guidelines are presented for clinical application in setting PSBH without measuring the patient’s LLL.

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Using the Care Dependency Scale for fall risk screening

Journal of Advanced Nursing ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04265.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 58 (6) ◽

pp. 594-601 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Elke I. Mertens ◽

Ruud J.G. Halfens ◽

Theo Dassen

Keyword(s):

Fall Risk ◽

Risk Screening ◽

Care Dependency ◽

Fall Risk Screening

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Scoping Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Fall Risk Screening and Assessment in Older Adults across the Care Continuum

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980820000112 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Hazel Williams-Roberts ◽

Catherine Arnold ◽

Daphne Kemp ◽

Alexander Crizzle ◽

Shanthi Johnson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽

Practice Guidelines ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Risk Screening ◽

Care Continuum ◽

Fall Risk Screening

ABSTRACT Given the rising numbers of older adults in Canada experiencing falls, evidence-based identification of fall risks and plans for prevention across the continuum of care is a significant priority for health care providers. A scoping review was conducted to synthesize published international clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and recommendations for fall risk screening and assessment in older adults (defined as 65 years of age and older). Of the 22 CPGs, 6 pertained to multiple settings, 9 pertained to community-dwelling older adults only, 2 each pertained to acute care and long-term care settings only, and 3 did not specify setting. Two criteria, prior fall history and gait and balance abnormalities, were applied either independently or sequentially in 19 CPG fall risk screening algorithms. Fall risk assessment components were more varied across CPGs but commonly included: detailed fall history; detailed evaluation of gait, balance, and/or mobility; medication review; vision; and environmental hazards assessment. Despite these similarities, more work is needed to streamline assessment approaches for heterogeneous and complex older adult populations across the care continuum. Support is also needed for sustainable implementation of CPGs in order to improve health outcomes.

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