Prevention of Falls Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly: An Overview

Falls in the elderly are a significant clinical problem. Their frequency and consequences accentuate the need for effective prevention. This paper provides an overview of fall prevention for the elderly population living in the community. The scope and severity of falls for this group is oulined and the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors are discussed. Fear of falling and its role within a cyclical process is described. Published research discussing fall prevention programs in the community is evaluated by describing the common types of prevention strategies used including: education, environmental modification and safety, and exercise.