Preventing Falls And “Post-Fall Syndrome” In Seniors: A Call For Anticipatory Care

We hear about stories like this all time: An elderly person falls and breaks something — a hip, a wrist, or an arm. Soon what once was a healthy, independent senior begins an inexorable downhill slide. Such is the case of my 89-year-old mother who recently fell and broke her wrist.

Turns out that 30 percent of people age 65 and older fall each year. Predictably, seniors with the following risk factors are more prone to falls:

  • Using sedatives
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Problems walking
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Eye problems
  • Balance issues

Similarly, when a person does fall, a cascading series of predictable clinical events occurs. It even has a name: “Post-fall syndrome.” This syndrome is characterized by things like fear of falling again, increased immobility, loss of muscle and control, lack of sleep, nutritional deficits, and so on. Seniors susceptible to falls also have higher rates of hospitalization and institutionalization.

What strikes me about falls among the elderly is that they are seemingly predictable events. And once a fall does occur, the consequences seem pretty predictable as well — enter post-fall syndrome. So if falls and their consequences are so predictable, why aren’t primary care physicians more proactive in terms of:

  • Preventing falls?
  • Treating post-fall syndrome?

In the case of my mother, her primary care physician and orthopedist were both very diligent at treating her episodic needs (i.e. her pain and broken bones). But little attention, if any, was given to assessing her long-term needs, such as nutrition, inability to do anything with her left hand (she’s left-handed), sensitivity to new medications (she never took drugs because they make her loopy), gait analysis, and depression counseling.

I know, I know — doctors can’t be expected to do everything in the confines of a 15-minute office visit. Yes, I know that doctors aren’t paid what they deserve. I’m also aware that many physicians just don’t like treating geriatric patients. But, hey — this is my mother!

Pediatrics coined a term awhile back called “anticipatory care.” It refers to the act of helping children and parents anticipate and deal with predictable developmental and health issues associated with childhood.

It seems to me that primary care physicians and insurance companies need to get together with respect to providing anticipatory guidance for the aging as well. Not only would it improve seniors’ quality of life, it would also prevent unnecessary medical and elder care. Besides, wouldn’t you want that for your mother or father?

*This blog post was originally published at Mind The Gap*


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