Decreasing Falls in Patients with Parkinsons Disease

2006 Words9 Pages
Decreasing the Risk of Falls in the Patient with Parkinson’s Disease Cathy Hanes RN, BSN Kent State University Contact Information Cathy Hanes Address: 447 Ninth Street Struthers, OH 44471 Phone: (330) 301-3672 Email address: chanes@kent.edu Abstract The leading cause of serious injury and death of older Americans are falls. On average 30% of people over the age of sixty five fall at least one time per year, and this percentage continues to increase with age. People with Parkinson’s disease are twice as likely to fall and have recurrent falls as other older people. These falls can result in serious injuries such as hip fractures and head trauma, a fear of falling, decreased mobility, and decline in functional ability and quality of life. Understanding the risk for falls for people with Parkinson’s disease and use of appropriate fall interventions as delineated in The American Geriatrics Society AGS/BGS Clinical Practice Guideline: Prevention of Falls in Older Persons can help maintain the functional ability, increased independence and overall quality of life. Decreasing the Risk of Falls in the Patient with Parkinson’s Disease The leading cause of injury in the older adult is from falls, 30% of adults age sixty five and older fall at least one time per year and this number increases strongly with age.1 77% of people with Parkinson’s disease will experience a fall.2 They are twice as likely to experience recurrent falls compared to other elderly people.3 The purpose of this manuscript is to address fall risk and prevention in people with Parkinson’s disease to maintain or improve functional ability and quality of life. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that develops gradually and affects movement. These changes can affect balance and posture as well which increase the risk of falls. According to Canning and his

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