Geriatric Care Prevents Falls that Land You in the Hospital

Falls are a serious problem, especially among our 65-and-older population. Every year, among older adults:

• There are about 1 million fall-related hospitalizations
• About 3 million emergency department visits take place as a result of falls
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries
• Almost 320,000 older people have a hospital stay because of hip fractures

Clearly, we need to address this problem. At Primora Primary Care, we have designed our geriatric care services to help prevent falls that can lead to hospitalization. Here’s what we do.

What is geriatric care?

With our geriatric care program, we provide comprehensive health care for patients who are 65 and older. Everyone’s care plan will be different depending on their situation, age, and health history; however, elements we typically focus on include preventative screenings, medication management, chronic disease management, fall prevention, and more.

Our program gives you and your family peace of mind that all your bases are being covered. Regular visits ensure we stay on top of any issues, and we can deal with anything new that pops up before it becomes a bigger deal.

How can we prevent falls?

We’ll start with a comprehensive assessment of your risk factors for falling. This will include your medical conditions, any mobility and balance issues, medications you’re taking, any vision or hearing problems, and any hazards that might cause a risk at home.

Based on this assessment, we’ll create a personalized fall prevention plan for you. Depending on your needs, this plan could include:

• Exercise and physical therapy — to improve strength, balance, and gait
• Medication management — to avoid causing dizziness and sleepiness that could lead to falls
• Environmental improvements — home safety changes such as removing tripping hazards, adding grab bars in the bathroom, changing flooring, etc.
• Assistive devices — these can include devices such as walkers and canes
• Other considerations — managing conditions such as foot problems, vision impairments, and more

We’ll take the time to educate both you and your caregiver about the risks you’re facing and the strategies you need to use to stay safe. By providing both education and a proactive plan to address risk factors, your likelihood of a fall that will lead to hospitalization should decrease significantly.

If you or a loved one needs professional guidance on preventing falls that result in hospitalization, our team at Primora Primary Care would be honored to serve you. To schedule an appointment, call our Bridgeville office or use our online scheduler to book a convenient time.