According to CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, healthcare providers can help reverse the increasing number of falls among American seniors. “Healthcare providers can make fall prevention a routine part of care in their practice,” he said.
To help healthcare providers in the effort, the CDC created the Stopping Early Accidents, Deaths and Injuries initiative. STEADI includes:
- Information on screening for falls
- Online training for providers
- Videos showing how to conduct functional assessments
- Brochures for providers, patients and caregivers
According to the CDC, healthcare providers can do the following three things to integrate falls prevention into their practice:
- Ask patients if they’ve fallen in the last year or if they’re worried about falling
- Review medication and make changes if they could increase fall risk
- Recommend vitamin D supplements
More articles on falls prevention:
Among the elderly, an epidemic of falling
Falls prevention: Study encourages initiatives in primary care clinics
Presence Health adds remote monitoring to its falls prevention program
