Chapter 18 - Models of care for falls and fracture prevention: A historical perspective

Abstract

Falls are a major clinical challenge in those over the age of 65years, affecting individual health and having a measurable effect on the finite resources of the medical system. The US Centre for Disease Control reports one in four Americans over the age of 65years fall each year with falls being the number one cause of injury and death from injury [1]. Various models of care to address falls have been developed, demonstrating a decrease in the number of falls. The authors of this chapter have been involved in a Falls Prevention Clinic, and now recognize sarcopenia as a major driver of fall risk. Over time our assessment has measured osteoporosis, fracture risk, and more recently sarcopenia. In this chapter, we review this evolution as a guide for clinical care.