Geriatric Emergency Medicine Online Curriculum (GEM-OC) 4 - Assessing Falls and ADLs
University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
This is Module Four of an online five-module curriculum. The modules, which are based on national geriatric emergency medicine competencies, cover a broad range of geriatric topics through an interactive teaching format. They require learners to review and analyze patient information, interpersonal interactions, laboratory and imaging results, diagnoses and treatment plans. This module teaches about assessing falls and activities of daily living (ADLs).
At the end of this Module, you will be able to:
1) Identify and assess safety risks in the home environment, and make recommendations to mitigate these.
2) Ask all patients >65 years of age, or their caregivers, about falls in the last year, watch the patient rise from a chair and walk (or transfer), then record or interpret the findings.
3) Communicate the key components of a safe discharge plan (e.g., accurate medication list, plan for follow-up), including comparing/contrasting potential sites for discharge.
4) In a patient who has fallen, construct a differential diagnosis and evaluation plan that addresses the multiple etiologies identified by history, physical examination and functional assessment.
5) Understand the role of physical and occupational therapy services for elderly patients with falls. Emphasize and encourage interdisciplinary patient care.
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