Falls In Hospitals: Reducing The Risk

Falls are often the beginning of the end for a healthy elderly person. In the hospital, the most common cause of a fall is no surprise: the patient has to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, in an unfamiliar place, and may have medicines on board that add to confusion and wooziness. They punch the call button. The nurse never seems to come. So they try to negotiate the trip on their own. And the predictable happens.

To make sure this never happens, this is another good reason to have a family member or close friend present at all times with the hospitalized patient. The family member functions as a private-duty nurse. If you don’t feel comfortable helping the patient, make sure they stay in the bed until the nurse or the aide shows up. It’s that simple.

Also, even if you cannot be there all the time, you can help your hospitalized loved one prevent a fall by asking the hospital staff:

• Have they assessed your patient’s risk for falling?
• What plans do they have to minimize the risk?
• Is there anything they think the family can do to help?

And if you see any slip or trip hazards in the patient’s room or nearby, speak up!