After an older adult falls, proactively tell the doctor
U.S. statistics show that about one in four people over 65 falls within a year, but fewer than half tell their doctor. Don't hide a fall; speak up proactively so the doctor can help assess risk. This article also provides reference practices for family members and elder care service staff.
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: Electronic Health Record System Adopts STEADI Algorithm | STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
In the United States, millions of adults aged 65 and older fall each year, and about one in four older adults falls. View source
In the United States, among older adults who fall each year, fewer than half tell their doctor about their fall. View source
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among older adults in the United States and the most common cause of traumatic brain injury and hip fracture. View source
The STEADI tool created by the CDC recommends that healthcare providers ask older adults whether they have fallen in the past year, whether they feel unsteady, or whether they are worried about falling, in order to assess fall risk. View source
In clinics implementing STEADI at Oregon Health & Science University, the medical record system automatically adds an annual fall screening reminder to the records of all patients aged 65 and older. View source
In December 2015, the medical software company Epic released a clinical program guiding health systems to incorporate the STEADI fall prevention process into their electronic health record systems. View source
For older people and families
If an older adult has fallen in the past year, even without injury, they can tell the doctor at the next visit.
If they feel unsteady when walking, or are afraid of falling, they can say so directly and ask the doctor to help take a look.
Family members can accompany the older adult to the follow-up visit and help them record the time, place, and circumstances of the fall.
If the older adult is reluctant to speak, family members can ask in a relaxed tone, "Have you tripped or stumbled recently?" so the older adult feels it is not blame.
You can make "whether you have fallen, whether you feel unsteady, and whether you are worried about falling" topics for chatting with the doctor.
Don't stay silent because you are afraid of being a bother; the more the doctor knows, the better they can help determine the cause and next steps.
See what care and community teams can do
You can draw on the STEADI tool's approach and add three questions to routine inquiries: whether the person has fallen in the past year, whether they feel unsteady, and whether they are worried about falling.
For older adults who proactively mention a fall or express concern, it is recommended to first make a preliminary record, then ask a doctor to conduct further assessment.
When conducting staff training, it is necessary to emphasize that "a fall is not fine just because there is no injury," and also to respect the older adult's willingness to speak, without pressing for details.
If conditions permit, a fall screening reminder can be added to the electronic records of the institution or department, but the local system functions, privacy regulations, and work processes must first be confirmed.
Epic released a project in 2015 to embed STEADI into electronic health records; this is a foreign case. Implementation in China needs to be integrated with existing systems and involve professional medical personnel.
Before introducing any screening tool, a localized trial should be conducted, and informed consent from older adults must be obtained; the tool should not be treated as an assessment conclusion.
What needs local assessment
The data cited in this article come from the United States: among U.S. adults aged 65 and older, about one in four falls each year, and fewer than half of those who fall tell their doctor. These are population statistics and do not represent individual risk. Falls are one of the common causes of injury-related death among older Americans, but not every fall leads to serious consequences. The CDC's STEADI tool and electronic health record reminders are foreign practices and are not considered part of China's current system. If older adults in China need a fall risk assessment, please consult the geriatrics department, rehabilitation department, or community doctors at a local hospital. Any introduction of tools or processes must be localized and verified by professionals. Fact source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). The original material is freely available on the CDC website. This website and its localization recommendations do not represent an 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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