Since 2001, for the first time, the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatrics Society have updated the guidelines for preventing falls in older people.

The update includes two notable changes:

1)One recommends – Tai chi — the meditative Chinese exercise — as an effective way to prevent falls
2)Doctors to review medication use in all elderly patients known to increase the risk of falling.

The earlier guidelines did not single out any particular exercise regimen and endorsed prescription reviews only for patients taking more than four medications.

Tai chi gets the nod because several trials have suggested that it seems to help reduce the risk of falling. The basic underlying philosophy is that balance is everything.

Confidence is important to fall prevention, fear of falling can itself lead older people to cut back on activities they used to enjoy.

Earlier guidelines called for reviewing medications only if a patient takes more than four. This time around, researchers say that all older patients ought to have their doctors review their prescriptions for any that might increase the risk of falling.

The evidence is strongest that medications e.g. antidepressants, sleep medications and medications for anxiety — increase the risk of falling. Also there is a suggestion though not yet proven, that narcotics and some blood pressure medications may increase the risk of falls.

The updated criteria for getting a risk evaluation are:

1)An elderly person worried or frightened by a fall.
2)Two or more falls in the past year.
3)One or more falls with injury.
4)Repeated difficulty with balance when walking.
Reference: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/new-advice-on-preventing-falls/?partner=rss&emc=rss