What Is Fall Risk Assessment?
A Plain-Language Guide
A fall risk assessment is a structured evaluation that measures how likely a person is to fall. It looks at factors like balance, gait (how someone walks), muscle strength, medication side effects, vision, home hazards, and history of previous falls. Healthcare providers use it to identify specific risks and create a prevention plan.
Why It Matters for Families
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for Americans over 65. One in four older adults falls each year, and falling once doubles the risk of falling again. But here is the important part: most falls are preventable. A fall risk assessment identifies the specific factors putting your loved one at risk, which means you can address them before a fall happens, not after.
What It Looks Like Day to Day
For an older adult, fall risk often increases so gradually that they do not notice. They might start holding onto furniture as they walk through the living room. They might avoid the stairs and stay on one floor. They might stop going for walks because the sidewalk feels uneven. These are not just "slowing down." They are compensating behaviors that signal increased fall risk, and they deserve a closer look.
What to Do About It
When to Get Professional Help
Request a fall risk assessment from your parent's primary care doctor if they have fallen in the past year, if they feel unsteady on their feet, or if they have started avoiding activities they used to do. Medicare covers an Annual Wellness Visit that includes fall risk screening. If your parent has already fallen, ask for a referral to physical therapy for balance and strength training, which is one of the most effective fall prevention interventions available.
Related Terms
Related Checklists
Related Articles
SeniorThrive Helps With This
SeniorThrive turns clinical concepts like this into simple daily tools. Daily Living Skills check-ins, wellness tracking, and care coordination that the whole family can see.