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Risks, consequences, and prevention of falls of older people in oral healthcare centers
Author(s) -
Baat Cees,
Baat Paul,
Gerritsen Anneloes E.,
Flohil Karien A.,
Putten GertJan,
MaarelWierink Claar D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/scd.12212
Subject(s) - medicine , falling (accident) , older people , hip fracture , orthostatic vital signs , fall prevention , accidental fall , injury prevention , physical therapy , poison control , gerontology , suicide prevention , health care , occupational safety and health , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medical emergency , environmental health , osteoporosis , surgery , blood pressure , economics , economic growth , pathology
One‐third of community‐dwelling people older than 65 years of age fall each year, and half of them fall at least twice a year. Older care home residents are approximately three times more likely to fall when compared to community‐dwelling older people. Risk indicators for falls are related to the older people's body, environment, behavior, and activities. An important health risk indicator is (orthostatic or postprandial) hypotension, which may induce cerebral hypoperfusion. Although the majority of falls remain without major consequences, 10% to 25% of falls in care homes result in bodily trauma. Prevalent fall‐related injuries are brain injury, lower extremity fracture including hip fracture and forearm/wrist fracture, facial fracture, humeral fracture, and rib/scapular fracture. As fall accidents by older people can have severe consequences, prevention of falls is of paramount importance. Healthcare providers, including oral healthcare providers, should inform older people on risks of falling and draw attention to potentially hazardous arrangements.