The American Geriatrics Society - Education

Falls in Older Adults
Management in Primary Practice

Tools List

Tools created especially for the Practicing Physician Education (PPE) project may be photocopied as is, without specific permission. Please note: tools with notices indicating that the copyright does not belong to the PPE project may not be photocopied without the specific permission of the owner of the copyright.

All the tools used in the model clinical process are listed below. The purpose or content of each tool is indicated briefly in italics.

*Professional Tools*	Falls Evaluation Provides form for recording initial findings about a patient who has experiences a fall

	Get Up and Go Test Provides brief screen for gait and/or balance problems

*Patient Forms*	Medical History Collects information provided by the family or person

	Home Safety Questionnaire Collects information on common home hazards

	Story of Your Falls Gives information needed for determining the cause

Patient Handouts	Falls: General Information Gives an overview of fall prevention

	Medical Evaluation of Falls Encourages patients to report their falls

	What is a Physical Therapist? Describes skills and services

	What is an Occupational Therapist? Describes skills and services

	Canes and Walkers - Choosing a Cane or Walker Reviews types, fitting, and uses

	Choosing and Starting an Exercise Program Gives general advice on exercise

	Improve Your Balance in 10 minutes a day Describes exercise a patient can do to improve their balance

	Decrease Your Risk of Falling Explains environmental changes to help reduce falls

	Put Your Best Foot Forward: Shoes and Falling Gives pointers for choosing footwear when one has balance problems

	Can You Get Help? Describes emergency response systems

	After the Fall: A Guide for Patients and Families Gives actions to take after a fall

	Steady As You Go: Low Blood Pressure Describes ways to manage orthostatic hypotension risk

	Tai Chi Describes the exercise program

	Avoiding Falls: Tips for Patients with Low Vision Gives tips for fall prevention for the visually impaired

	Osteoporosis: The Britttle Truth Gives an overview of osteoporosis

*Additional Resources*	List of Organizations and Agencies that are are source of additional information on Falls
	AGS/BGS/AAOS Guideline for the Prevention of Falls in Older Persons (2001)
	Falls Intervention Evidence Tables
	Additional AGS Foundation For Health in Aging Public Education Materials

The entire PPE Tool Kit on falls can be found at http://www.miahonline.org/tools/index.html. Here you will find additional information on falls in a primary care practice.