At the Falls Prevention Clinic, patients will receive:

1. Fall Risk Assessment

• PPA (Physiological Profile Assessment)
  • The evidence–based Falls Risk Assessment will be performed by one of our Geriatrician Assistants, and will include various tests and activities. This assessment tool predicts the risk of future falls with 75% accuracy. It provides a breakdown of falls risk by assessing the patient’s strength, balance, vision, proprioception and reaction time. The family physician will receive copies of this test and its interpretation.
• Performance Measures
  • Chair stands (timed from sitting to standing position)
  • Timed Up-and-Go
  • Balance standing tasks (Side-by-side, semi-tandem, tandem, single leg)

• Cognitive Assessment
  • Research has shown that a subtle decrease in cognitive function is related to falls in seniors, so each patient will undergo various cognitive assessments, including:
    • Stroop
    • Trail-Making
    • Digit Span
    • Digit Symbol Substitution

• Other Questionnaires and Assessments
  • Quality of Life
  • Everyday Function
  • Mood

2. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

The Geriatricians focus on diagnosis, test interpretation, and intervention to prevent future falls. In the literature such an assessment reduced future falls by 60%*. After their assessment at the Falls Prevention Clinic, the patient will typically be discharged back to ongoing care by their General Practitioner.

3. Evidence-based Home Exercise

If eligible, your patient will be given the option to take part in Action Seniors!, a randomized-control trial investigating the effect of a home-delivered exercise program on reducing falls in seniors over the age of 70. If placed in the exercise group, your patient will receive strength and balance training accompanied by 4-5 PT visits over 2-6 months which has been shown to reduce seniors’ falls by 40-60%.

For a copy of our referral form, please click here.