How to Assess Fall Risk in Older Adults? From Checklists to Booklets, These Resources Can Help You Get Started
Falls have a considerable impact on older adults, but many risks can be identified early in daily life. The U.S. CDC's STEADI program offers a risk checklist, a booklet for caregivers, as well as videos and success stories, all of which can serve as references for families and communities. Remember: no checklist can replace a doctor's judgment; the key is to seek professional assessment.
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: STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention | STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC · Original language: en
Read the original ↗Facts from the sources
The U.S. CDC's STEADI page brings together patient and caregiver resources related to falls in older adults. View source
A video series shows how the STEADI program prevents falls in older adults. View source
There are success stories introducing how STEADI helps older adults age without injury. View source
STEADI training and resources help healthcare providers implement fall prevention strategies. View source
There is a checklist that providers and patients can use to check fall risk. View source
There is a booklet aimed at family caregivers, containing steps to help prevent falls in older adults. View source
For older people and families
Falls in older adults are not a small matter, and learning about risks in advance is beneficial.
You can find a simple fall risk checklist and go through it item by item with the older adult.
Pay more attention to whether the older adult is unsteady when walking, standing up, or using the bathroom.
A basic check of the home's flooring, lighting, handrails, and so on can be done.
There are ready-made booklets abroad that introduce fall prevention steps; you can refer to their approach.
Don't make judgments on your own when you are unsure; ask a doctor or rehabilitation therapist to assess.
If the older adult has fallen recently, treat it even more seriously; don't delay.
Have the older adult do some exercise within their ability, but ask a professional first.
See what care and community teams can do
CDC STEADI's training resources can be used as references to arrange systematic fall prevention learning for staff.
When using the risk checklist, it should be administered by trained personnel and combined with a doctor's assessment.
Videos and success stories can be used for community education, but attention should be paid to translation accuracy and cultural differences.
The caregiver booklet can be used as educational material for family members, but the content should be adjusted according to local conditions.
Fall prevention requires collaboration among medical institutions; conclusions should not be drawn based solely on a checklist.
When citing foreign resources, indicate the date of information update to avoid outdated content.
Screening tools should undergo localized validation and should not be directly copied from foreign versions.
Coordinate with community medical forces to establish mechanisms for assessment, referral, and follow-up.
What needs local assessment
The resources mentioned in this article come from the U.S. CDC and are for reference only. China does not have exactly the same systems and services, and foreign practices should not be treated as existing policies in China. Risk checklists and booklets cannot replace a doctor's diagnosis. If an older adult has unsteady movement, balance problems, or is taking medication, please consult a geriatrician, rehabilitation specialist, or professional assessor. When home modifications involve issues such as load-bearing and slip resistance, professional verification is also needed. Do not stop an older adult's medication or reduce their activity on your own just because the checklist contains a certain risk. Fact source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). The original materials are freely available on the CDC website. This website and its localization suggestions do not represent an endorsement by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. government; its images or logos have not been reproduced.
Sources
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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