Geriatric Patient Falls Assessment
ANSWER
The 71-year-old widowed guy often visits the clinic for his persistent anxiety and insomnia. To help him deal with these challenges, he is being prescribed triazolam (Halcion) and clonazepam (Klonopin). He also recently described incidents in which he lost his balance and fell, which resulted in a hip fracture that required surgery eight weeks ago. He also admitted that he has been getting more and more confused lately throughout this appointment.
Further medical evaluation is required to identify the source of his symptoms according to his history of falls, bewilderment, and aging. The doctor should review the patient’s drug regimen for any modifications or unfavorable side effects that can increase the patient’s risk of falling or confusion. The doctor should also take into account any additional illnesses that might be causing his symptoms, such as a vitamin deficiency or an underlying neurological disorder. The doctor should also perform a thorough physical examination to check for any injuries or impairments brought on by the patient’s falls and to evaluate his functional abilities, including a balance test and a cognitive evaluation. Finally, in order to lower the patient’s risk of future falls and fall-related consequences, the doctor should educate the patient on fall prevention techniques and talk to him about lifestyle changes.
QUESTION
The patient is a 71-year-old widowed man who is seen regularly in the clinic for health maintenance and follow-up of his chronic insomnia and anxiety. He has regular prescriptions for triazolam (Halcion) and clonazepam (Klonopin) for these problems. Recently he has been reporting frequent episodes of losing his balance and falling, and eight weeks ago was hospitalized for a hip fracture sustained during one of these falls resulting in hip surgery. On this visit, he also complains of becoming increasingly confused.
