Monitoring

A healthcare professional needs to regularly check:

• gait, balance, strength, and coordination
• how a person responds to changes in medicines

Hospitalization

If you are hospitalized, you may not be able to move around as much. Not moving can quickly reduce a person’s strength, which in turn leads to difficulty walking.

If you cannot walk safely and independently ask for help. Walking several times daily is important, if possible. Having your eyeglasses or a hearing aid with you in the hospital can lower your risk of falling.

Special Considerations for Frail Older Adults

Frail (weak or seriously ill) older adults may need special treatment. For example,

• A healthcare professional needs to guide the blood sugar control for frail older adults. Tight control of blood sugars in frail people with diabetes is not easy to do. The steps are many and complex. And, more relaxed sugar control can improve brain function, and lower other side effects of treatment.
• Frail older adults need to keep their weight stable and eat a healthy diet. This helps keep bones and muscles strong, which can reduce the risk and dangers of a fall.

Last Updated January 2023