Red Book
Preventive activities in older age
Approximately 30% of people aged ≥65 years report one or more falls in the past 12 months.32 Most falls are caused by an interaction of multiple risk factors. Having one fall puts you at risk of another fall, and the more risk factors, the greater the chance of falling. You can help your patients manage their risk and prevent further falls by regularly asking them about falls.
Table 5.3.1
Table 5.3.2
A time of >12 seconds indicates an increased fall risk. The alternate step test measures how quickly an older person can alternate steps (left, right, left, etc) onto an 18 cm high step a total of eight times. A time >10 seconds indicates an increased fall risk.
The Quickscreen assessment tool, developed and validated for use in an Australian population, includes these tests as well as simple assessments of medication use, vision, sensation and balance.
GPCOG, General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition; MS, multiple sclerosis
Did you know you can now log your CPD with a click of a button?
Appendix 13A - The 3 Incontinence Questions 3IQ (PDF 0.04 MB)
Appendix 2A - Family history screening questionnaire (PDF 0.03 MB)
Appendix 2B -Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Criteria for making a diagnosis of familial hypercholestrolaemia in adults (PDF 0.04 MB)
Appendix 3A - 'Red-flag' early intervention referral guide (PDF 0.37 MB)
Appendix 8A - Australian cardiovascular disease risk charts (PDF 0.47 MB)
Lifecycle charts (PDF 0.08 MB)
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