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Cognitive Impairment A Major Factor In Elderly Falls In Hospital

Elderly patients who suffer from cognitive impairment or dementia are more likely to fall during hospital stays, according to a new study.

The study found that a faller's mental status deficit (MSD) was related to falls documented by nurses in fall incident reports. Falls in hospitals or other settings are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in older people with cognitive impairment, dementia, or confusion.

In 34 percent of falls (346 out of 1,017) in adult inpatient acute care settings, MSDs were identified as the dominant factor, according to Huey-Ming Tzeng, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan.

Fallers with MSDs tended to have more injurious falls than those without such deficits. They also seemed to have fewer toileting-related falls than patients without such deficits.

Falls may be precipitated by intrinsic or extrinsic risk factors,according to researchers. Intrinsic factors are those integral to the patient, such as age-related changes, previous falls, reduced vision, unsteady gait, chronic illness, medication use, and MSD. Extrinsic factors are environmental and other hazards, such as time of day and staffing.

Dr. Tzeng examined reports of 1,017 falls occurring in 6 inpatient acute care units in a community, not-for-profit hospital between 2005 and 2009.

She believes that risk assessment of falls and targeted surveillance should be part of fall-prevention policies for cognitively impaired older patients during hospital stays. Involving nursing staff and family members in assessing a patient’s mental status may help to prevent falls caused by mental status deficits.

For more on elderly medical cared, see the library of articles by Daytona Beach nursing home injury attorney.



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