ABSTRACT
Falls and gait impairment are considered geriatric syndromes, as their incidence is greatest among older adults and tends to increase with age. Falls and gait impairment tend to be multifactorial in etiology, demanding a careful and comprehensive approach to clinical assessment and intervention. Falls in community-dwelling older adults are strongly associated with eventual placement in a skilled nursing facility. While some falls have a clearly identifiable etiology, the majority are the result of a combination of multiple intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. Environmental hazards and accidents are the leading contributor for falls in older adults. Polypharmacy is an important iatrogenic cause but potentially modifiable risk factor for falls. Falls in older adults are frequently multifactorial in origin, and therefore require a systematic clinical approach to their evaluation. Older adults should be advised that walking with shoes of low heel height and high surface contact area may reduce the risk of falls.
