After an older adult is hospitalized and returns home, pay extra attention to preventing falls in the first month.
US CDC data show that older adults are less active during hospitalization and are more likely to fall within the first month after discharge. Family members can prepare in advance in three areas: the environment, medications, and activity. For specific measures, please consult a doctor or rehabilitation therapist first.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Inpatient Care | STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC · Original language: en
Read the original ↗
Facts from the sources
US CDC materials point out that older adults often have reduced activity during hospitalization due to being restricted to the ward or bed, which may increase the risk of functional decline and readmission after discharge. View source
US CDC materials mention that, compared with older adults who have not been hospitalized, those who have been hospitalized are more likely to fall within the first month after discharge. View source
The US CDC recommends that hospitals incorporate fall prevention programs into routine clinical practice to help reduce falls among older adults. View source
The US CDC has developed a fall prevention guide for hospitalized patients, intended to help hospitals integrate fall prevention programs into clinical practice. View source
The guide contains 10 practical steps based on research findings and the experience of medical staff, used to reduce falls during hospitalization and after discharge, improve post-discharge coordination and hospital process documentation, and manage medications that increase fall risk. View source
For older people and families
If an older adult stays lying down or rarely gets out of bed during hospitalization, their leg strength will weaken, and they may be unsteady when walking after returning home.
The first month after discharge is a period of relatively high fall risk. Keep hallways and bathrooms in the home clean and free of clutter.
Place frequently used items such as water cups, pillboxes, and the telephone within arm's reach to reduce the need for the older adult to walk back and forth.
When the older adult gets up from bed or a chair, have them sit for a moment before standing, make sure they are stable before taking a step, and do not rush.
If the older adult feels weak when walking, consider using a walker or cane, but the choice should be made after assessment by a rehabilitation professional.
Arrange with family members to attend follow-up appointments on time after discharge, and promptly tell the doctor if dizziness, leg weakness, palpitations, or similar symptoms occur.
Do not keep the older adult lying down all the time for fear of falling. Moderate leg and foot exercise at the bedside is beneficial, but how to do it should follow the instructions of medical and nursing staff.
Leave a small night light on for the older adult at night so they can see the way clearly when getting up, and do not walk around in the dark.
See what care and community teams can do
When communities and eldercare institutions accept older adults who have just been discharged, they should make fall risk assessment the first step, referring to the discharge records and the recommendations of medical and nursing staff.
Low-intensity activity training should begin during hospitalization, such as leg raises in bed, sitting up, and standing exercises; the specific plan should be developed by a rehabilitation therapist.
Before discharge, help the older adult's family check the home environment, focusing on handrails and slip resistance in the bathroom, beside the bed, and on stairs.
Integrate fall risk reduction into service procedures, including medication reconciliation, vision checks, and monitoring of vital signs such as blood pressure.
Provide simple training for family members, teaching them how to assist the older adult in standing up, walking, and how to respond after a fall.
Establish a follow-up mechanism within one month after discharge, using phone calls or home visits to learn about the older adult's activity status, and intervene promptly if gait instability is found.
Collaborate with local hospitals or community health service centers to obtain professional rehabilitation guidance and referral resources; do not operate based on experience alone.
All environmental modification plans, such as installing handrails, adjusting bed height, and slip-resistant treatment, require professional personnel to verify load-bearing capacity and materials on site.
What needs local assessment
The above information is sourced from US CDC materials on fall prevention for hospitalized older adults and does not represent current medical or eldercare policies in mainland China. Fall risk varies from person to person; proportions in case statistics do not equal personal risk. For activity arrangements, medication adjustments, and rehabilitation training after an older adult is discharged, be sure to consult the attending physician, rehabilitation therapist, or pharmacist, and decide based on the older adult's actual physical condition. For home environment modifications such as handrail installation, floor slip-resistance levels, and dimensions, on-site verification by professional construction or assessment personnel is required; do not copy any data. Fact source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). The original materials can be obtained free of charge on the CDC website. This website and its China-localized suggestions do not represent endorsement by CDC, HHS, or the US government; no images or logos have been reproduced.
Sources
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
Loading feedback…