What is the appropriate strategy to manage a patient who is identified as having a high risk of falls?

What is the appropriate strategy to manage a patient who is identified as having a high risk of falls? Select one: Refer to the physiotherapist for a falls assessment and risk management plan Conduct a falls assessment and initiate falls prevention strategies Maintain strict bed rest until a physiotherapist can be engaged to provide a falls assessment Inform the doctor and await the doctor’s review before attending care

The appropriate strategy for managing a patient identified as having a high risk of falls is to conduct a falls assessment and initiate falls prevention strategies. This approach ensures that immediate actions are taken to evaluate the patient’s specific risk factors and to implement tailored interventions aimed at preventing falls.

Conducting a Falls Assessment: This involves assessing the patient’s mobility, balance, medications, and environmental factors that could contribute to falls. Tools like the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test or the Morse Fall Scale can be utilized for a comprehensive evaluation.

Initiating Falls Prevention Strategies: Based on the assessment findings, various strategies can be employed, such as:

Modifying the environment to reduce hazards (e.g., removing loose rugs, ensuring adequate lighting).
Implementing mobility aids (e.g., walkers, canes).
Educating the patient and caregivers about safety measures.
Ensuring regular follow-ups and monitoring of the patient’s condition and interventions.
Referring the patient to a physiotherapist for a falls assessment and risk management plan is also beneficial, but initiating immediate assessment and prevention strategies ensures that risks are mitigated right away. Maintaining strict bed rest is generally not recommended as it can lead to deconditioning and increase the risk of falls when mobility is resumed. Informing the doctor is important, but waiting for their review can delay necessary interventions.

References:
American Geriatrics Society. (2011). Guideline for the prevention of falls in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 59(1), 148-157. Link to the guideline.
World Health Organization. (2007). WHO Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age. Link to the report.