Falls among seniors are one of the most common injury problems in British Columbia. One third of seniors experience at least one fall per year and half of these seniors fall recurrently.
The Falls Prevention Clinic is a referral-based clinic that specializes in preventing falls and fractures among adults aged 65 years and older. Our mission is to identify the reasons why our patients fall, and to address these risk factors in collaboration with family physicians, specialists, and evidence-informed best-practice medicine.
We offer fall risk assessment, comprehensive assessment by a geriatrician, and evidence-based home exercises.
To learn more, visit the Falls Prevention Clinic website.
Physicians can learn more about referrals on the Falls Prevention Clinic website.
Step 1: Determine if your patient is eligible for the clinic
Step 2: Fill out our referral form. Make sure all sections are completed. Please attach all relevant test results and reports (e.g., DEXA, blood work, bone scan, CT scan, X-rays, etc.), consult reports, and hospital discharge summaries
Step 3: Fax referral to 604-875-5129
Step 4: Our office will contact your patient directly to set up an appointment
Once a patient is referred to the clinic, they will be contacted by our team to schedule their first appointment. This appointment consists of 2 parts:
Falls Risk Assessment
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
One of our geriatricians will conclude the appointment with individualized recommendations for falls prevention.
General parking is available in the Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, and a limited number of metered-parking spaces are available along West 10th Avenue.
Handicapped parking is available across the street from the VGH Research Pavilion.
Aged 65 and over
Has had at least 1 fall in the past 12 months
patients who have sustained a fall-related fracture are prioritized
Has not been diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition (e.g., Parkinson?s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.)
Has reasonable cognitive function, and has not been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer?s Disease (MMSE score of 24 or higher)
Is ambulatory (with or without assistive device)
Has a life expectancy of >1 year
Can verbally communicate in English or has an interpreter