Full Definition

A fall risk assessment is a structured clinical evaluation that identifies modifiable and non-modifiable factors that increase a senior’s risk of falling. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in adults over 65 in Texas and nationally — making fall risk assessment a standard part of geriatric care.

Standardized assessment tools include the Morse Fall Scale, the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) toolkit used in primary care. These tools evaluate balance, gait, medication use, cognitive status, vision, continence, and history of prior falls.

In skilled nursing facilities and hospitals, fall risk assessments are required at admission, after a fall, and at regular intervals. Care plans must include individualized prevention strategies: bed alarms, non-slip footwear, environmental modifications, physical therapy, medication review, and appropriate supervision.

For families evaluating a care facility, fall rates and fall-with-injury rates are publicly reported quality measures on Medicare’s Care Compare website. High fall rates may indicate inadequate staffing or supervision. For families caring for a parent at home, a fall risk assessment by a home health physical therapist can guide home modifications and therapy that meaningfully reduce fall risk.