Analyzing Falls in Nursing Homes Are They Preventable Term Paper

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Falls in Nursing Homes, Are They Preventable

Preventing falls in nursing homes

Falls are quite common in the homes of the elderly with around one hand a half falls for each nursing-home bed-years. Although most falls are not fatal, 10% to 20% lead to admissions in hospitals and fractures. It is, therefore, important that care providers in these homes cut down the falls and the rate of fall-related dangers. Interventions have succeeded in reducing these falls in community- residence for aged patients, but efficiency in reducing them in nursing homes is not evident. Various studies investigate the effectiveness of diverse programs to reduce falls within nursing homes. Examples of the intervention programs comprise of environmental evaluation, assessment and alteration of the assistive device, changes in medication, evaluation, and training of gait, staff education, exercise programs, use of hip protector, and the evaluation of blood pressure. Research shows that the intervention and evaluation of the environment reduce falls within nursing homes and there is a relationship amid falls and a few medications. There are however no indications on the impact of the change in medication and the falls. There is also no evidence that workout programs reduce the falling rates. Even though ineffective in cutting down rates of fall, the usage of hip protectors gives the impression to outcome in fewer fall-associated morbidity (Vu, Weintraub & Rubenstein, 2006).

Keywords

Falls, intervention, prevention, risk factors, hip-protectors, risk assessment, multifaceted.

Falls in Nursing Homes, Are they Preventable

Falls are unintentional coming to rest at a lower level under the effect of gravity. Falls commonly affect the elderly population. Research shows that approximately one-third of the community-dwelling population older than 65 years fall each year, and worryingly half of these experience multiple falls.

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These reports do not take into account the unreported falls. Also, nursing home dwellers that are older than 65 years are more likely to fall as compared to the home counterparts. 15% to 20% of nursing homes falls result in fractures or hospital admissions compared to 5% of the community falls. There are more consequences such lacerations, internal organ damage, intracranial hemorrhage, increased fear of falling, and exposure of nursing homes to potential suing. The health care provider must, aim therefore, to reduce both the rate of falls as well as the rate of fall-associated morbidity within the long-term care situation (Vu, Weintraub & Rubenstein, 2006). Research shows that approximately 10% to 20% of falls within nursing homes lead to serious injuries and 2% to 6% lead to fractures. Falls can cause debility, functional degeneration along with decreased life quality. Falling fear can lead to additional functional loss, stress, thoughts related to helplessness, along with social segregation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

It is unclear whether interventions will reduce the rates of falls in elderly patients, particularly those residing in long-term care facilities. Falls result from several risk factors acting on the individual, making it difficult to construct fall prevention programs. Potential fall-risk factors include both intrinsic risk factors (cognitive impairment, visual impairment, muscle weakness, neurologic impairment. gait/balance impairment, and cardiovascular derangements) and extrinsic risk factors (environmental and iatrogenic). Because falls are often the result of the interplay of two or more risk factors, interventions targeting only some of the existing risk factors might not be effective in preventing falls (Vu, Weintraub & Rubenstein, 2006).

Research has identified preventive interventions that have an effect in reducing the incidence of falls.....

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