Reducing the likelihood of falls in older people.

BACKGROUND: Falls are a serious health concern for older people and an important issue for nurses. Many factors contribute to the causes of falls. Various combinations of these factors have been incorporated in the fall assessment tools developed so far, but no single tool has been adopted universally. Institutions tend to develop their own assessment tools, which are investigated in these institutions only, and thus have not been independently evaluated for validity and reliability. CONCLUSION: A thorough patient assessment is a vital measure in fall prevention. Nurses, particularly those based in hospitals, have a pivotal role in developing fall prevention strategies, either individually or as part of an interdisciplinary team. Fall prevention strategies have the potential to improve the quality of life for at-risk older patients and their families, as well as provide economic benefits to society.