Falls are a frequent and frightening issue for patients and staff, and they have physical and psychological consequences for individuals and society. They are costly in human and financial terms (National Institute for Health and Clinical ExceIlence 2004).
Parkinson's Disease is one of the commonest neurological conditions to affect older people. It is a frequent cause of falls, fractures, and hospital admission. As such, it is a costly disease, especially in the later stages.
Guidelines from NICE and Public Health England on prevention of falls and fractures, and the diagnosis and management of hip fractures.
Ian Philp of the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust examines a model of integrated car which has seen reduced admissions of older people for acute hospital care and a significant fall in deaths of older people in hospital.
Fracture services often fail to respond to the true complexity of their older patients’ needs. The Care of Patients with Fragility Fracture (the 'Blue Book', available as a download) sets out best practice in the care and prevention of fragility fractures.
Read our international journal publishing refereed original articles and commissioned reviews on geriatric medicine and gerontology