What does this mean to you? Think about it, every care plan/service plan for residents with memory loss and/or risk for falls says, “keep room clutter-free”. So, what exactly does that mean? We have seniors who have lived in cluttered homes their entire lives, some are even hoarders, and they have managed without our care plan/service plan of “clutter-free environment” …
Falls (Again)
Falling is a common serious clinical problem and a leading cause of injury in seniors. The definition of a fall is an event that results in a person unintentionally coming to rest on the ground, floor, or other lower level with or without loss of consciousness or injury. In a recent study published in JAMDA, Orthostatic Hypotension (OH) measured at …
Let’s Talk About Falls
Falls have been the bane of our existence since the beginning of time. Falls result in significant injuries to our seniors both in community-based housing and post-acute care settings. A significant number of admissions to post-acute care are initiated due to injuries related to falls. Then the family wants you to prevent grandma from falling, easier said than done right? …
Cancer Medication – Increased Risk for Falls
Bortezomib is a common multiple myeloma therapy that can cause treatment-related peripheral neuropathy, a risk factor for falls. The relationship between bortezomib and falls in older patients with multiple myeloma is unknown. In a recent study published in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology, in older adults with multiple myeloma, bortezomib was associated with an increased risk of having a diagnostic …
Deprescribing Medications Related to Falls
High-risk medications pose serious safety risks to older adults, including increasing the risk of falls. Deprescribing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older adults who have experienced a fall is a key element of fall reduction strategies. However, continued use of PIMs in older adults is common, and clinicians may face substantial deprescribing barriers. A study published on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov was conducted …
Patient-Centered Fall-Prevention Toolkit
Falls represent a leading cause of preventable injury in hospitals and a frequently reported serious adverse event. Hospitalization is associated with an increased risk for falls and serious injuries including hip fractures, subdural hematomas, or even death. A recent, nonrandomized, controlled trial assessed whether a fall-prevention tool kit that engages patients and families in the fall prevention process throughout hospitalization …
Falls in Assisted Living
Did you know… Falls in assisted living communities account for 50% of liability claims 80% of falls go unwitnessed Falls can cost up to $50 billion/year 72% of falls occur in the resident’s bedroom 44% of residents indicate that their mobility aid was out of reach Interesting statistics, right? What is alarming is that 80% of falls go unwitnessed and …
What Price?
The cost of a fall among older adults requiring emergency services is unclear, especially beyond the acute care period. In a recent study, medical expenditures (costs) to 1 year among community-dwelling older adults who fell and required ambulance transport, including acute versus post-acute periods, the primary drivers of cost and comparison to baseline expenditures were evaluated. Results showed that the …
Alzheimer’s – Antipsychotics – Brain Injury
As caregivers, we are all aware that residents with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease are at higher risk for falls and head injuries. What we didn’t know until recently is that current trends in treating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease with antipsychotic medications may actually be increasing these risks. The results of a recent study published in the Journal of …
Post-Fall Huddles – Is Your Team Engaged?
We have all heard about, talked about or participated in post-fall huddles hoping to improve outcomes for our residents. A recent study conducted by BMC Health Services has identified that post-fall huddles may reduce the risk of repeat falls. Staff who participate in post-fall huddles are likely to have positive perceptions of teamwork support for fall-risk reduction and safety culture …
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