Hackensack University Medical Center Is First in New Jersey to Create Dedicated Program to Assess and Reduce the Risk of Falls in Older Adults

Geriatric Medicine specialists evaluate fall risk and provide individualized plans to reduce falls and maintain patient independence

Hackensack University Medical Center is the first and currently only hospital in the state of New Jersey to offer a formal medical program aimed at preventing falls in older adults.

Through the Falls Risk Assessment Program, experts trained in geriatric medicine evaluate each person’s risk of falling and prescribe an individualized plan to reduce the risk of falling and to maintain independence.

“Our goal is to prevent falls from happening, and if a person has already had a fall, to prevent another fall from occurring,” said Owen Deland, M.D., a geriatric medicine physician who is leading the new Falls Risk Assessment Program at Hackensack University Medical Center. “When someone has had a fall, they may be fearful of falling again and become more sedentary, leading to further deconditioning, increasing their risks for another fall significantly. We want to arm patients with knowledge and tools to reduce that fear and build strength, balance, and confidence.”

The Falls Risk Assessment Program team screens older adults for factors that may raise their falls risk, such as gait and balance problems; polypharmacy contributions to balance issues; cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; mood disorders; malnutrition; lower body weakness; vision problems; hearing loss; and home environment fall risks.

After speaking with the patient and conducting a physical examination, the team personalizes a plan of care aimed at reducing falls risk, which can include referrals to physical therapists to improve strength, occupational therapy for home safety assessment for creating a safer home environment or evidence-based community programs like Matter of Balance, as well as medication assessment.

Learn more about innovative geriatric care at Hackensack University Medical Center.