Fall Prevention for Older Adults: Assess First, Then Provide Care
In the United States, about 1 in 4 older adults falls once each year, and most hip fractures are caused by falls. But fall risk varies from person to person and needs to be understood through professional assessment. Family members can pay attention to details of daily life, and professionals can use standardized tests to help make judgments. This advice is for reference only and does not replace a doctor's diagnosis.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Automatically reviewed, without human verification. Programmatic checks are not professional review. Seek professional advice where appropriate. Automatically reviewed on 10/4/2026, 7:14:25 AM
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Clinical Resources | STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC · Original language: en
Read the original ↗Facts from the sources
In the United States, about 1 in 4 older adults will have a fall in that year. View source
More than 95% of hip fractures among older adults are caused by falls. View source
Medical professionals can use the 30-second chair stand test to assess leg strength and endurance in older adults. View source
Medical professionals can use the 4-stage balance test to assess balance in older adults. View source
Medical professionals can use the timed up-and-go test to assess mobility in older adults. View source
Medical professionals can measure orthostatic blood pressure to determine whether an older adult has orthostatic hypotension. View source
For older people and families
Falls among older adults are a common phenomenon, but that does not mean every older adult will experience one, so there is no need to be overly anxious.
If an older adult walks more slowly or has difficulty standing up, family members can accompany them to the hospital and ask the doctor to do a fall risk assessment.
The doctor may use tests such as standing up from a chair and standing balance. These must be performed by professionals; do not imitate them at home.
Watch whether the older adult feels dizzy when moving from lying to sitting and from sitting to standing. This may be an orthostatic blood pressure problem and should be reported to the doctor promptly.
Keep hallways in the home clear, wipe up water on the floor promptly, and leave a small night light on at night.
Do not make the older adult less active out of fear of falling; long-term inactivity will make the legs and feet even weaker.
Let the older adult wear well-fitting, non-slip shoes, and trouser legs should not be too long.
If the older adult has weak legs, dizziness, or unsteady walking, seek medical attention as soon as possible; do not try to tough it out.
See what care and community teams can do
The 30-second chair stand test, 4-stage balance test, and timed up-and-go test can be used to screen older adults' muscle strength, balance, and mobility, but they must be performed by trained personnel according to standard procedures.
Before testing, assess whether the older adult has acute illness, pain, dizziness, or other conditions that make testing inappropriate, and obtain informed consent.
The testing environment must be safe, the chair stable, and there should be handrails or staff nearby for protection to prevent accidents during testing.
Orthostatic blood pressure measurement should be performed according to protocol: first measure after resting in a lying position, then remeasure 1 to 3 minutes after standing, and pay attention to medication effects.
Screening results alone cannot be used for diagnosis; a comprehensive assessment should include medical history, medications, vision, foot problems, and home environment.
When used by institutions in China, current Chinese guidelines for geriatric medicine and rehabilitation medicine should be referenced. Test methods and norms need local validation and cannot directly apply U.S. data.
After screening, an individualized intervention plan should be developed, including muscle strength training, balance training, medication review, and referral for environmental modifications.
Establish referral pathways; promptly refer older adults with abnormal screening results or high risk to specialist physicians.
What needs local assessment
The assessment methods and statistical data above come from U.S. materials and are for understanding international experience only. When older adults in China and their family members use them, they should consult medical and rehabilitation professionals in China and follow China's current guidelines. Population statistics are not equal to individual risk; specific risk should be judged by a doctor. All tests require professional operation; do not try them on your own at home. Home modifications such as slip-resistant measures and handrails should be checked for safety by professionals. Fact source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). The original materials can be obtained free of charge on the CDC website. This website and the localized recommendations do not represent endorsement by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. government; no images or logos from CDC are reproduced.
Sources
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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