Fall Risk Screening

What?

Screening is a process to identify if a patient is at increased risk of falling.

Why?

Screening is the first step in fall risk management. If a patient is identified as being at risk for falling, health care providers can then move forward in performing a more thorough assessment to determine why that patient is at risk of falling.

How?

Screening can be done by asking the patient questions about recent falls, feelings of unsteadiness, or worry about falling. The questions may be asked verbally or presented to the patient in writing prior to or at the start of an appointment. Current evidence-based guidelines for fall risk management recommend screening all older adult patients on an annual basis. Screening may also be appropriate after a change in a patient’s health status, such as following a hospitalization.