Falls can happen at any age, but the incidence increases with aging. Falls not only affect confidence and independence; they can also lead to significant injuries including fractures, head injuries, and recurrent hospitalizations. Falls can be due to various reasons including medications, poor vision, frailty, chronic pain, neurological disease, cardiac diseases, postural blood pressure changes, vertigo, arthritis and environmental hazards. During our comprehensive assessment, we try to establish the cause leading to the falls through thorough clinical history, physical examination, blood tests and medical imaging. Once the cause is determined, a management strategy is planned which involves addressing the causative factor, strength and balance exercises, dietary needs, falls education and osteoporosis management. Depending upon the need, we make a referral to an exercise physiologist, dietician, occupational therapist and a physiotherapist.
We also run falls and balance program which involves multidisciplinary structured program aimed at improving the falls rate. There is a fee required for this program, however, if the patient has private health cover, the majority of the cost is covered.