Management of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Physical therapists should routinely ask older adult patients if they have fallen in the previous 12 months.
Screening should include:

1. History and context of falls over the previous 12 months
2. At least one question about the patient's percept.ion of difficulty with balance or walking

(C)

2. For each patient who reports a fall or falls or reports difficulty with balance or walking, the physical therapist should screen by observing for gait or balance impairment. A screening is positive when either of the following conditions is found:

1. The patient reports multiple falls regardless of balance and gait impairments
2. The patient reports one fall, and a balance or gait impairment is observed

(C)