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Instability and Falls

  • Chapter
Fundamentals of Geriatric Medicine

Abstract

Upon completion of the chapter, the student will be able to:

  1. 1.

    Identify the prevalence of falls in older adults.

  2. 2.

    Identify predisposing risk factors for falls among older adults.

  3. 3.

    Develop and implement a plan of care for a patient with history of recurrent falls.

Material in this chapter is based on the following chapter in Cassel CK, Leipzig RM, Cohen HJ, Larson EB, Meier DE, eds. Geriatric Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach, 4th ed. New York: Springer, 2003: Thomas DC, Edelberg HK, Tinetti ME. Falls, pp. 979–994. Selections edited by Helen M. Fernandez.

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Suggested Readings

  • Guideline for the prevention of falls in older persons. American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society, and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention. J Am Geriatr Soc 2001;49(5):664–672. A userfriendly approach for the prevention of falls in all older adults.

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  • Thomas DC, Edelberg HK, Tinetti ME. Falls. In: Cassel CK, Leipzig RM, Cohen HJ, et al., eds. Geriatric Medicine, 4th ed. New York: Springer, 2003:979–994.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Helen M. Fernandez MD (Assistant Professor and Fellowship Director)

Authors
  1. Helen M. Fernandez MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Rainier P. Soriano MD (Assistant Professor and Director of Medical Student Education), Helen M. Fernandez MD (Assistant Professor and Fellowship Director) & Rosanne M. Leipzig MD, PhD (Professor and Vice Chair of Education) (Assistant Professor and Director of Medical Student Education),  (Assistant Professor and Fellowship Director) &  (Professor and Vice Chair of Education)

  2. ABIM Foundation and American Board of Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, USA

    Christine K. Cassel MD, MACP (President and CEO) (President and CEO)

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Fernandez, H.M. (2007). Instability and Falls. In: Soriano, R.P., Fernandez, H.M., Cassel, C.K., Leipzig, R.M. (eds) Fundamentals of Geriatric Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-32326-8_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-32326-8_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-32324-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-32326-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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