ABSTRACT
The effective clinician searches for the underlying causes – and the frail elderly typically have several, although fortunately many of these are remediable. In addition, those who fall or have blackouts are at risk of fractures and so consideration should also be given to the detection and treatment of both injuries and osteoporosis. The key difference between a fall and a blackout is whether there was a transient loss of consciousness. However, this distinction can be difficult in the absence of a reliable eyewitness account. The risk of falling and subsequent admission to hospital both increase with advancing age. The development of good communication between services with agreed referral pathways are necessary to optimise care and reduce the risk of recurrence. A history of previous falls is a strong predictor of future falls, particularly if occurring indoors or the patient was unable to get up off the floor.
