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Finding Balance is an
Injury Prevention Centre program

Am I at risk for a fall?

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults

Falls are the leading cause of injury among seniors. The older we get, the greater the risk of falling becomes. Our bodies naturally change with age, and these changes affect the way we feel, move, and behave.

A fall can have a devastating and lasting impact on an individual resulting in injury, chronic pain and a reduced quality of life. Even without an injury, a fall can cause a loss in confidence and a reduction in activities for older adults.

The good news is that there are actions you can take to prevent falls. Included in this section are materials to help seniors be active and stay independent.

FALLS RISK SELF-ASSESSMENT QUIZ

Are you at risk of falling? Take our interactive online Risk Self-Assessment Quiz to find out.

FINDING BALANCE RESOURCE CATALOGUE

Visit our resources catalogue for all of our materials available for both download and to order.

INJURY PREVENTION CENTRE (IPC)

Finding Balance is developed by the Injury Prevention Centre. Find out more about the Centre.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DISCLAIMER

Please review our disclaimer before implementing any of the activities or exercises outlined in our resources.

Falls Risk Self-Assessment Quiz

  Answer YES or NO for each statement, then tally your score below    
1 Have you fallen in the last 6 months? YES 2 NO 0
2 Do you use, or have you been advised to use, a cane or walker to get around safely? YES 2 NO 0
3 Do you sometimes feel unsteady when you are walking? YES 1 NO 0
4 Do you have to steady yourself by holding onto furniture when walking at home? YES 1 NO 0
5 Do you worry about falling? YES 1 NO 0
6 Do you need to push yourself up with your hands to stand up from a chair? YES 1 NO 0
7 Do you have trouble stepping up onto a curb? YES 1 NO 0
8 Do you often have to rush to the toilet? YES 1 NO 0
9 Have you lost any feeling in your feet? YES 1 NO 0
10 Do you take medication to help you sleep or improve your mood? YES 1 NO 0
11 Do you take medication that sometimes makes you feel lightheaded or more tired than usual? YES 1 NO 0
12 Do you often feel sad or depressed? YES 1 NO 0
13 Do you have difficulty avoiding hazards in your path because you don’t see well? YES 1 NO 0
TOTAL SCORE Add up the number of points for each YES answer. If you scored 4 points or more, you may be at risk of falling.    
Source of Checklist: Rubenstein LZ, Vivrette R, Harker JO, Stevens JA, Kramer BJ. Validating an evidence-based, selfrated fall risk questionnaire (FRQ) for older adults. J Safety Res 2011;42(6):493-499.

Try our interactive online Risk Self-Assessment Quiz:

Directory of Seniors’ Centres

The Government of Alberta provides a number of programs and services to support seniors in Alberta. This information is also helpful for caregivers and those Albertans who will be needing these services in the near future.

Resources

 

Finding Balance is a seniors' falls prevention initiative developed by the Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta.

Funding for the Centre is provided, in whole or in part, by Alberta Health. Provisions of funding by Alberta Health does not signify that this project represents the policies or views of Alberta Health.

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Injury Prevention Centre

INJURY PREVENTION CENTRE
4-248 ECHA, University of Alberta
11405 87 Ave NW
Edmonton AB T6G 1C9
tel: 780.492.6019

email: info@findingbalancealberta.ca

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