Geriatric Care and Fall Prevention Flashcards
6 cards from real CPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Geriatric Care and Fall Prevention flashcards as text
The 'STEADI' (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) initiative defines older adults as being at HIGH risk for falls if they:
Answer: Report 2 or more falls in the past year, 1 fall with injury, or have difficulty walking or balance problems
CDC STEADI high fall risk criteria: 2+ falls in the past 12 months, any fall with injury, OR self-reported walking/balance difficulty — any one of these places the patient in the high-risk category requiring comprehensive fall prevention intervention.
Polypharmacy in geriatric patients is a significant fall risk factor. Which class of medications is MOST commonly associated with an increased fall risk in elderly patients?
Answer: Psychotropic medications (benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antipsychotics) and antihypertensives
Psychotropic medications (sedation, altered cognition, muscle relaxation) and antihypertensives (orthostatic hypotension) are the two most fall-implicated drug classes in the elderly, with benzodiazepines and antidepressants carrying particularly high risk.
When assessing a 78-year-old patient for cognitive impairment during a home visit, which brief cognitive screening tool is most commonly used?
Answer: Mini-Cog (3-word recall + clock draw)
The Mini-Cog (3-item recall + clock-drawing test) is a validated, brief (3-minute) cognitive screening tool designed for primary care and community settings. It has excellent sensitivity and specificity for detecting dementia in diverse populations.
The 'FRAT' (Fall Risk Assessment Tool) categorizes fall risk. A 79-year-old patient who has had 2 falls in the past year, takes a benzodiazepine, and lives alone would MOST likely be classified as:
Answer: High risk — multiple FRAT risk factors present
Multiple concurrent FRAT risk factors (prior falls, psychotropic medication, social isolation) classify this patient as HIGH risk, warranting comprehensive multifactorial fall prevention intervention.
Which environmental modification is MOST evidence-based for reducing fall risk in elderly patients living at home?
Answer: Installing grab bars in bathrooms and improving lighting, especially on stairs
Installing grab bars in bathrooms (near toilet, in shower/tub) and improving lighting — particularly night lighting and stair lighting — are the most evidence-based, low-cost environmental modifications for reducing home fall risk.
The Otago Exercise Programme is an evidence-based fall prevention exercise program that specifically includes:
Answer: Strengthening exercises and balance retraining in the home, tailored to the individual's ability
The Otago Exercise Programme consists of individualized, home-based lower limb strengthening and balance exercises delivered by a trained instructor (nurse or physiotherapist) and is one of the most evidence-based programs for fall reduction in community-dwelling elderly adults.