[Prevention of falls and their consequences].

UNLABELLED: FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY: Approximately 30% of all elderly subjects experience a fall at least once a year. Hip fractures is the most severe consequence.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES: The prevention of falls and hip fractures implies different strategies depending on the population concerned. For most all older subjects in good general health, one of the important risk factors is an abnormal single-leg stance which can reveal equilibrium disorders. For more frail subjects (20% of the elderly population), all factors must be considered, including, sarcopenia, nutritional status, and cognitive function. INSTITUTIONALIZED SUBJECTS: For institutionalized subjects, generally with multiple disease states, falls usually signal poor health, aggravated by multiple medications. One of the most frequent diseases observed in this population is Alzheimer type dementia. Adapted multidimensional management must be initiated within the framework of an overall gerontology policy to prevent falls and their consequences in institutionalized subjects.