Falls prevention in older adults

* Screening suggested annually, and/or at acute visits for a fall.

¶ UpToDate advises assessing for risk of low vitamin D.

Δ UpToDate advises using gait speed and the "timed get up and go" test. Impaired gait and mobility are defined as gait speed ≤0.8 m/sec, or "timed get up and go" test >15 seconds. Refer to UpToDate content for further details.

◊ UpToDate advises supplementing vitamin D only in patients with risk factors for low vitamin D based on diet, sun exposure, malabsorption, age 75 or greater, obesity, use of certain medications (phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, isoniazid, theophylline, rifampin) or those with impaired gait or mobility. For those patients, UpToDate recommends empiric supplementation rather than initial measurement of 25-OH-D serum concentrations.