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The present study aimed to evaluate the risk of falls and the importance of fall prevention by analyzing the 1-year mortality rates after falls among elderly patients. Medical records were reviewed from 175 patients who were ?65 years old and had experienced a fall. The chi-square test was used to analyze fall-related characteristics and sex-related differenced in the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI, a measure of comorbidity). The t-test was used to analyze differences in serum albumin levels before and after the fall, and the 1-year mortality rates according to sex. Approximately 51% of falls involved elderly patients, and 53.1% of the elderly patients had ?3 comorbidities. Significant sex-related differences were observed in the serum albumin levels at admission (p = 0.014) and the CCI (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant change in serum albumin levels between the admission and the occurrence of the fall (p < 0.001). Using the CCI scores, the 1-year mortality rates among elderly patients who had experienced a fall were 56.9% for men and 40.0% for women (p < 0.001). Falls in a medical facility are preventable, and it is necessary to screen elderly patients and evaluate their risk of falls at the time of their admission. Furthermore, prevention activities, fall risk assessments, and screening can help improve quality of life and reduce the mortality rate among elderly patients.

The present study aimed to evaluate the risk of falls and the importance of fall prevention by analyzing the 1-year mortality rates after falls among elderly patients. Medical records were reviewed from 175 patients who were ?65 years old and had experienced a fall. The chi-square test was used to analyze fall-related characteristics and sex-related differenced in the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI, a measure of comorbidity). The t-test was used to analyze differences in serum albumin levels before and after the fall, and the 1-year mortality rates according to sex. Approximately 51% of falls involved elderly patients, and 53.1% of the elderly patients had ?3 comorbidities. Significant sex-related differences were observed in the serum albumin levels at admission (p = 0.014) and the CCI (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant change in serum albumin levels between the admission and the occurrence of the fall (p < 0.001). Using the CCI scores, the 1-year mortality rates among elderly patients who had experienced a fall were 56.9% for men and 40.0% for women (p < 0.001). Falls in a medical facility are preventable, and it is necessary to screen elderly patients and evaluate their risk of falls at the time of their admission. Furthermore, prevention activities, fall risk assessments, and screening can help improve quality of life and reduce the mortality rate among elderly patients.

Aging is a process of life that cannot be denied, but if we can minimize functional decline during hospitalization and improve recovery of function, the elderly will be able to maintain wellness and well-being after discharge. To improve quality of life of the elderly, it is necessary to be able to quickly and easily identify possible concerns caused by aging and complex diseases and to prevent functional decline. The Geriatric Screening for Care-10 (GSC-10) was developed through systematic review, working group consensus, and geriatric expert’s peer review. It is an initial screening tool for health problems in the elderly, and has been developed to assess problems in 10 domains: cognitive impairment, depression and delirium, polypharmacy, functional decline, dysphagia, malnutrition, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pain. The GSC-10 is not limited by who can conduct it (medical team, staff, caregiver, self-report), healthcare setting (acute, long-term, community-dwelling, or home care), or within-hospital setting (outpatient, inpatient, emergency department). The completed version of the Geriatric Screening for Care will be used as a basic tool for collecting patient health information and sharing it among fields of care in hospitals, and in inter-organizational collaborations for transitions in care.

Aging is a process of life that cannot be denied, but if we can minimize functional decline during hospitalization and improve recovery of function, the elderly will be able to maintain wellness and well-being after discharge. To improve quality of life of the elderly, it is necessary to be able to quickly and easily identify possible concerns caused by aging and complex diseases and to prevent functional decline. The Geriatric Screening for Care-10 (GSC-10) was developed through systematic review, working group consensus, and geriatric expert’s peer review. It is an initial screening tool for health problems in the elderly, and has been developed to assess problems in 10 domains: cognitive impairment, depression and delirium, polypharmacy, functional decline, dysphagia, malnutrition, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pain. The GSC-10 is not limited by who can conduct it (medical team, staff, caregiver, self-report), healthcare setting (acute, long-term, community-dwelling, or home care), or within-hospital setting (outpatient, inpatient, emergency department). The completed version of the Geriatric Screening for Care will be used as a basic tool for collecting patient health information and sharing it among fields of care in hospitals, and in inter-organizational collaborations for transitions in care.

The present study aimed to evaluate the risk of falls and the importance of fall prevention by analyzing the 1-year mortality rates after falls among elderly patients. Medical records were reviewed from 175 patients who were ?65 years old and had experienced a fall. The chi-square test was used to analyze fall-related characteristics and sex-related differenced in the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI, a measure of comorbidity). The t-test was used to analyze differences in serum albumin levels before and after the fall, and the 1-year mortality rates according to sex. Approximately 51% of falls involved elderly patients, and 53.1% of the elderly patients had ?3 comorbidities. Significant sex-related differences were observed in the serum albumin levels at admission (p = 0.014) and the CCI (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant change in serum albumin levels between the admission and the occurrence of the fall (p < 0.001). Using the CCI scores, the 1-year mortality rates among elderly patients who had experienced a fall were 56.9% for men and 40.0% for women (p < 0.001). Falls in a medical facility are preventable, and it is necessary to screen elderly patients and evaluate their risk of falls at the time of their admission. Furthermore, prevention activities, fall risk assessments, and screening can help improve quality of life and reduce the mortality rate among elderly patients.