Falls Assessment in Older People course for GPs

A third of people over the age of 65 will have at least one fall in the next year. Management in primary care aims to reduce the consequences of falls on the individual and society. This session considers risk factors for falling, provides a framework for GPs to assess patients who have fallen in the community, and reviews the management of older people at risk of falling.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in January 2022.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• identify the consequences of falls for elderly people
• describe the risk factors for falling
• explain the management of a patient who has fallen
• describe ways that the risk of falls can be reduced

Falls result from a combination of both physical and social factors. They should not be thought of as an inevitable consequence of ageing.