Fall Risk Assessment

Why this test may be ordered

• Yearly screening recommended by the CDC and American Geriatrics Society for all adults 65 years and older
• If you have had a fall in the past year
• If you feel unsteady when standing or walking
• If you are worried about falling
• If you have symptoms such as dizziness, irregular heartbeats, or blood pressure that drops too much when you stand up

Preparation and collection

You don't need any special preparations for a fall risk assessment.

The assessment includes a screening questionnaire and physical tasks such as the Timed Up-and-Go test, 30-Second Chair Stand Test, and 4-Stage Balance Test. Your provider may also check your medicines, home safety, blood pressure, vision, feet, vitamin D levels, and cognitive function.

There is a small risk that you might fall while you are doing the assessment.

Understanding results

Your results may show your risk of falling as low, moderate, or high. They may also identify which areas (such as gait, strength, or balance) are contributing to your risk.

• Screen-negative (lower-likelihood): Your screening and assessment tasks suggest a lower likelihood of falling. Limitation: This is a screening assessment, not a diagnostic test. It cannot guarantee that you will not fall. Next step: Continue with routine fall prevention strategies as recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Screen-positive (higher-likelihood): Your screening and assessment tasks suggest a higher likelihood of falling. Limitation: This is a screening assessment, not a diagnostic test. It cannot confirm that you will fall, and some people with a higher-likelihood result may not fall. Next step: Your provider may recommend interventions such as exercise to improve strength and balance, changing medicines, taking vitamin D, getting vision checked, switching to safer footwear, removing home hazards, or treating medical conditions.

• This is a screening assessment, not a diagnostic test. It does not diagnose any condition.
• There is a small risk that you might fall while doing the assessment tasks.
• Results may be influenced by temporary factors such as fatigue or illness.
• The assessment may not capture all individual risk factors for falling.
• Interpretation of results should be done by a healthcare professional.

What to do next

If you have questions about your results and/or recommendations, talk to your provider. Based on your results, your provider may recommend strategies such as exercise, medicine changes, vitamin D, vision check, safer footwear, home hazard removal, or treatment of medical conditions.

• Have you fallen in the past year?
• Do you feel unsteady when standing or walking?
• Are you worried about falling?
• What medicines are you currently taking?
• Are there any safety hazards in your home, such as loose rugs or poor lighting?

Evidence source

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Fall Risk Assessment