2,3 Medications, especially psychotropic drugs, can increase the risk of falls and fall-related injuries. 5 Other causes include difficulty in transferring and poor foot care. Falls are caused by the interaction of a number of different factors. For this reason, fall prevention requires a combination of medical treatment, rehabilitation, environmental modification, and technological interventions. A review of prescribed medications to assess their potential risks and benefits.
Restraints can actually contribute to fall-related injuries and deaths.
3 Limiting freedom of movement and personal autonomy results in deconditioning and muscle atrophy that can increase functional decline. Since new federal regulations took effect in 1990, nursing homes have reduced the use of physical restraints. Although some institutions have reported an increase in falls, fall-related injuries have decreased in most nursing homes. Falls and instability in the elderly. Falls injuries in the elderly.