Fall Risk and Cognition Assessments Essay

Fall Risk and Cognition Assessments Essay

Fall Risk and Cognition Assessments Essay

CASE STUDY

Fall Risk and Cognition Assessments

Mrs. L is an 89-year-old widow who lives independently in her home. She drives, and she is an avid quilter. Her daughter lives within 2 miles and checks in daily with Mrs. L by phone or in person.

Mrs. L has been admitted to your hospital with the diagnosis of R/O pneumonia.

Her past medical problems include the following:

• Bilateral hip replacements
• Detached retina × 2 (right eye)
• Osteoarthritis
• Depression
• Orthostatic hypotension
• Falls at home × 1
• Urinary frequency
• Insomnia (sleeps about 3 hours per night)

Mrs. L takes no medication, “not even an aspirin.”

Mrs. L uses her call button frequently to request assistance to the bathroom. Upon rounding, her nurse found Mrs. L on the floor, having crawled out of her bed with the side rails up. She was assessed and was found to have no injuries. Her gown was wet with urine. When asked to describe what happened, Mrs. L stated the following: “I called for help to the bathroom and no one came. So rather than wetting the bed, I managed to crawl over the side rails. I slipped on the floor trying to get to the bathroom.”