Fall Management Program
Falls are the leading cause of injury in older adults. In a skilled nursing facility, where many residents have balance problems, weakness, cognitive impairment, or medications that cause dizziness, fall prevention requires more than just telling people to be careful.
MediLodge’s fall management program takes a systematic approach. It starts with identifying who’s at risk and why, then puts specific interventions in place to reduce that risk.
How it works
Every resident is assessed for fall risk at admission and reassessed regularly. The assessment looks at mobility, balance, medication side effects, vision, cognition, footwear, continence (needing to rush to the bathroom is a major fall trigger), and history of previous falls. Based on the results, the team puts individualized precautions in place.
Those precautions might include bed alarms and chair sensors, non-slip footwear, adjusted medication timing, scheduled toileting programs, physical therapy focused on balance and strength, modified room setup (lowering the bed, removing clutter, adding grab bars), and increased supervision during high-risk times like nighttime bathroom trips.
When a fall happens
Despite precautions, falls do happen. When they do, the team follows a post-fall protocol: immediate medical evaluation, investigation into why it happened, and care plan updates to prevent a recurrence. Falls are tracked and trended so the facility can identify patterns and adjust its approach.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that fall prevention programs in care facilities significantly reduce both the rate of falls and the severity of fall-related injuries. MediLodge’s program is designed around these evidence-based practices.
Learn more
Find a MediLodge location near you and contact the facility to learn about their fall management program.