Start with medications to help older adults prevent falls
In the United States, there is a fall risk toolkit for older adults developed with the participation of pharmacists, which helps older adults sort through their medications and identify drugs that may increase fall risk. Older adults and their families in China can draw on this approach: bring a complete medication list when seeing a doctor, ask the doctor or pharmacist for an evaluation, and do not stop or reduce medications on your own.
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: Pharmacists Have a Toolkit to Help Prevent Falls | STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, in partnership with the National Council on Aging, developed a fall risk reduction toolkit aimed at helping prevent falls among older adults. View source
Many older Americans see pharmacists more often than they see primary care doctors, which gives pharmacists an opportunity to convey health information. View source
Pharmacists can review all medications a patient is taking to help manage their medication regimen. View source
Pharmacists explain to older adults and their caregivers medication-related matters that may increase fall risk. View source
The toolkit provides pharmacists with a list of alternative medications with a lower fall risk. View source
The toolkit undergoes an annual literature review, keeping its content updated with new research and data. View source
For older people and families
When taking an older adult to a medical appointment, it is recommended to list all medications currently being taken (including dietary supplements) and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
If the older adult has recently felt dizzy or unsteady when walking, you can ask the doctor or pharmacist whether it may be related to the medications they are taking.
Do not stop, reduce, or switch medications on your own. Always consult a professional first.
You can regularly sort through the medicine cabinet, remove expired or duplicate prescriptions, and avoid taking the wrong medication.
See what care and community teams can do
Communities and institutions can refer to the U.S. experience by setting up medication consultation windows in pharmacies or outpatient clinics, and proactively ask older adults whether they have a history of dizziness or falls.
It is recommended that pharmacists organize and review the medications of older adults who take multiple drugs, and identify medications that may affect balance or increase fall risk.
If suspicious medications are found, the pharmacist should recommend that the older adult return to the doctor for a follow-up visit, and the doctor should decide whether to adjust the medication, rather than directly instructing the patient to stop taking it.
China does not yet have the toolkit mentioned in the article. Medication safety education can be carried out in light of Chinese guidelines and clinical judgment, while keeping an eye on the latest research and policy developments.
What needs local assessment
The above content comes from U.S. media reports and is provided only for understanding practices abroad. It does not equate to current policies or medical services in China. The original article does not explain how to obtain the toolkit or its specific effects. Any adjustment of an older adult's medication must be assessed in person by a qualified doctor or pharmacist. Family members should not make judgments or change medications based on this article alone. For matters involving drug side effects, fall risk assessment, and other issues, please consult professionals. Source of facts: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). The original materials are freely available on the CDC website. This site and its localization suggestions do not represent endorsement by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. government; no images or logos from them have been reproduced.
Sources
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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