NICE publish new falls guideline
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a new guideline entitled, ‘Falls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk’.
The guideline updates and replaces the 2013 NICE guideline on falls and includes recommendations on:
- Identifying people at risk of falls
- Comprehensive falls assessments
- Interventions to reduce the risk of falls
- Maximising ongoing participation in falls prevention interventions
- Information and education
Professor Jonathan Benger, Chief Medical Officer and Interim Director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE, says:
“Falls present a major, growing public health problem that can have devastating effects on older people and those at-risk due to medical conditions, often resulting in a loss of independence, chronic pain, and reduced quality of life.
This useful and useable guideline has been updated to ensure people identified as being at greatest risk get help and support tailored to their individual needs so they can live full and active lives.”
Dementia is listed in the guideline as a factor that could increase the risk of falls, and dementia is mentioned periodically throughout the guideline, which you can access here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng249