FALLS CHECKLIST

Add up the points for each “yes” answer below. If you score four points or more, you may be at risk for falling. I have fallen in the past six months. (Yes? 2) Why it matters: People who have fallen once are likely to fall again. I use or have been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely. (Yes? 2) Why it matters: People who have been advised to use a cane or walker may already be more likely to fall. Sometimes I feel unsteady when I am walking. (Yes? 1) Unsteadiness or needing ■ support while walking are signs of poor balance. I steady myself by holding onto furniture when walking at home. (Yes? 1) People who are worried ■ about falling are more likely to fall. I need to push with my hands to stand up from a chair. (Yes? 1) This is a sign of weak leg ■ muscles, a major reason for falling. I have some trouble stepping up onto a curb. (Yes? 1) This is also a sign of weak ■ leg muscles. I often have to rush to the toilet. (Yes? 1) Rushing to the bathroom, ■ especially at night, increases your chance of falling. I have lost some feeling in my feet. (Yes? 1) Numbness in your feet can ■ cause stumbles and lead to falls. I take medicine that sometimes makes me feel light-headed or more tired than usual. (Yes? 1) Side-effects from medicine ■ can sometimes increase your chance of falling. I take medicine to help me sleep or improve my mood. (Yes? 1) These medicines can sometimes ■ increase your chance of falling. I often feel sad or depressed. (Yes? 1) Symptoms of depression, ■ such as not feeling well or feeling slowed down, are linked to falls. Greater Los Angeles VA Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center