Who Should be Referred
Who can the Falls Prevention Clinic help?
Patients eligible for the Falls Prevention Clinic must meet the following criteria:
- Aged 70 years and over
- Community-dwelling and ambulatory (with or without assistive devices) in the Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, North/West Vancouver area
- Have had at least one fall in the previous 12 months
- Have not had a hip fracture or hip replacement in the previous 2 years
- Have reasonable cognitive function (MMSE score of 24 or higher)
- No progressive neurological conditions (eg. Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.)
- Can verbally communicate well in English
Indoor falls are particularly associated with poor outcomes, so please have a high index of suspicion and consider referring indoor fallers in particular.
For a copy of our referral form, please click here.
Ineligible Patients
Younger Than 70 Years Old
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of high-risk fallers referred to our clinic, patients must be aged 70 and over to be eligible for assessment at the Falls Prevention Clinic. We recommend that patients aged less than 70 years be assessed by an internal medicine specialist or geriatrician in their regular office setting.
Cognitive Impairment & Dementia
The Vancouver Falls Prevention Clinic is unable to assist those with significant cognitive impairment. We recommend that your patient be seen at:
Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders
UBC Hospital Koerner Pavilion, Room G35
2211 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver BC, V6T 2B5
T: 604.822.703
F: 604.822.7191
www.vch.ca/alz
If your patient is not suitable for assessment at the Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, we recommend that your patient be referred to a local geriatrician. For further information about dementia and reducing the risk of falls we recommend the Dementia Journey website.
