Module 10 Discussion – Fall Prevention Essay

Fall prevention refers to various actions that aid in reducing the level of accidental falls suffered by the elderly (Hopewell et al., 2018). Currently, falls by older adults commonly result to patients experience injuries. This paper gives an analysis of Maxine’s case study, which shows how the patient was vulnerable to falls due to various risk factors and significant interventions that can be employed to reduce falling risk.

Risk factors

According to the case study, Maxine is exposed to falling risk due to various factors such as vision impairment, not wearing any footwear and age. First, the patient is at risk due to low vision that requires glasses that assist in improving visual acuity. In a case when the patient is not wearing the glasses, there is a high probability of experiencing a fall since the patient suffers low vision. Secondly, the patient represents herself in the hospital, not wearing any footwear, which exposes her legs to falling risk since wearing socks does not guarantee proper foot grip. Also, research reveals that not wearing shoes exposes an elderly patient a falling risk by 11.2 times (Vieira, Palmer & Chaves, 2016). Thirdly, Maxine suffers age risk factor since being a 72 year old has a high chance of falling since the body has weak muscles. Module 10 Discussion – Fall Prevention Essay.

Interventions

Although the patient is exposed to falling risk, some of the interventions that, if properly employed, can help reduce patient falling risk. Such intervention includes: wearing of well-griped shoes since the shoes reduce slipping rather than putting on socks, providing clients with appropriate counseling on the need to wear on multifocal glasses that allows the patient focus on various distances within same lenses, and provision of a good lighting system in the house since it helps visual system control by enhancing balance to an elderly patient such as Maxine.

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References

Hopewell, S., Adedire, O., Copsey, B. J., Boniface, G. J., Sherrington, C., Clemson, L., … & Lamb, S. E. (2018). Multifactorial and multiple component interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (7).

Vieira, E. R., Palmer, R. C., & Chaves, P. H. (2016). Prevention of falls in older people living in the community. Bmj, 353, i1419.

Initial Post

For the initial discussion post, please begin by reading the scenario below. Identify at least one factor that puts Maxine at risk for falling. Your original post should include why this puts Maxine at risk and what interventions can be implemented to reduce the risk.

The R.N. has just completed an admission assessment on a 72 year-old female named Maxine, and she has assigned this client to you. Maxine was admitted from home, and has fallen three times over the last two weeks. Module 10 Discussion – Fall Prevention Essay.  She has some bruising, but no major injuries.

When you enter the room to meet Maxine, she tells you she has forgotten to bring her glasses to the hospital. You also notice she is not wearing shoes, but does have on socks. When you ask if she is having any pain, she says she is a little stiff from the fall, but the medication the doctor prescribed for her helps.

Maxine’s list of medications include:

1. Lasix 60 mg PO twice daily
2. Metoprolol 50 mg PO every morning
3. Metformin 500 mg PO twice daily
4. Percocet 1-2 tabs PO every 6 hours PRN pain. Module 10 Discussion – Fall Prevention Essay.