Medical Attention Following a Fall Critical to Senior Health

Falling down is hazardous to a senior citizen's health, yet fewer than one half of all seniors see a doctor after a fall. And those who don't seek medical attention are far less likely to engage in any of the six widely recommended activities, such as a review of their medications or getting a cane or walker, that may prevent repeated falls, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

In the study, researchers, using data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, found that even though 91% of California seniors reported seeing a doctor in the past year, a fall was rarely the reason for the visit. In fact, less than one half (46.6%) of seniors who had fallen more than once reported a fall as the reason for a doctor's appointment.

Those who did not seek medical help were less likely to engage in activities that might prevent future falls—only about 31% did two or more follow-up activities to prevent falls. In contrast, 73% of seniors who did seek medical care after a fall engaged in two or more follow-up activities.

"Following up with a doctor after a fall is critical to senior health," says UCLA Center for Health Policy Research associate director Steven P. Wallace, PhD, lead author of the policy brief. "The safeguards we discuss are some of the best ways of preventing additional falls and the disastrous health consequences associated with falls."

Source: UCLA