Diabetes and Fall Risk: Special Considerations in Improving Quality of Life for Older Adults- As the world’s population ages, chronic diseases have become the most common cause of death. Most people over 65 have at least one chronic disease and half will have three or more. Diabetes is one of the most prevalent; 75% of people over age 80 have diabetes or pre-diabetes and treatment options may differ from younger patients. The elderly also have the highest risk of falls with one in three persons over 65 falling every year. Older people with diabetes have been found to have a higher risk of falls and when there is a fall; hip fracture is twelve times more likely.This course will explore the identification and management of diabetes and fall risk and evidence based guidelines for management and prevention, as well as a discussion of special considerations in improving the quality of life and health care for older adults.
Identify the problem: review demographics of diabetes and falls in older adults
Discuss the medical and psychosocial complications of diabetes
Review evidenced based preventive care for older adults
Emphasize the critical importance of ‘geriatric syndrome’ identification and management
Present the literature review of increased risk of falls in people with diabetes
Discuss diabetes management with special considerations for older adults
Discuss fall prevention strategies
Identify partnerships for management of fall risk for people with diabetes: focus on patient self-management
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