Internationale Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation
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The Need for Support Care for Successful Fall Prevention

Craig H Lichtblau, Christopher Warburton, Gabriel Meli, Allyson Gorman

Falls contribute significantly to serious injuries and death and are particularly common in the elderly. In addition to the damage caused by the falls themselves, the immobilization involved in the recovery from fall-related injuries is associated with deteriorating health and specific health risks, compounding the healthcare costs incurred from falls. Troublingly, falling also enhances the risk for subsequent falls. It is thus vitally important that effective fall prevention measures are developed and implemented, especially for vulnerable populations who are at heightened risk for falls. These populations include the elderly as well as those with relevant health conditions such as dementia and those taking certain medications. Research has shown that evidence-based fall prevention programs can effectively reduce the occurrence of devastating falls and prevent resulting injuries. With the appropriate level and amount of support care, morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs associated with falls can be substantially reduced.