CPC Geriatric Care and Fall Prevention

Question 1

The 'STEADI' (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) initiative defines older adults as being at HIGH risk for falls if they:

Accepted Answer

Report 2 or more falls in the past year, 1 fall with injury, or have difficulty walking or balance problems

Answer

CDC STEADI high fall risk criteria: 2+ falls in the past 12 months, any fall with injury, OR self-reported walking/balance difficulty — any one of these places the patient in the high-risk category requiring comprehensive fall prevention intervention.

Question 2

Polypharmacy in geriatric patients is a significant fall risk factor. Which class of medications is MOST commonly associated with an increased fall risk in elderly patients?

Accepted Answer

Psychotropic medications (benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antipsychotics) and antihypertensives

Answer

Psychotropic medications (sedation, altered cognition, muscle relaxation) and antihypertensives (orthostatic hypotension) are the two most fall-implicated drug classes in the elderly, with benzodiazepines and antidepressants carrying particularly high risk.

Question 3

When assessing a 78-year-old patient for cognitive impairment during a home visit, which brief cognitive screening tool is most commonly used?

Accepted Answer

Mini-Cog (3-word recall + clock draw)

Answer

The Mini-Cog (3-item recall + clock-drawing test) is a validated, brief (3-minute) cognitive screening tool designed for primary care and community settings. It has excellent sensitivity and specificity for detecting dementia in diverse populations.

Question 4

The 'FRAT' (Fall Risk Assessment Tool) categorizes fall risk. A 79-year-old patient who has had 2 falls in the past year, takes a benzodiazepine, and lives alone would MOST likely be classified as:

Accepted Answer

High risk — multiple FRAT risk factors present

Answer

Multiple concurrent FRAT risk factors (prior falls, psychotropic medication, social isolation) classify this patient as HIGH risk, warranting comprehensive multifactorial fall prevention intervention.

Question 5

Which environmental modification is MOST evidence-based for reducing fall risk in elderly patients living at home?

Accepted Answer

Installing grab bars in bathrooms and improving lighting, especially on stairs

Answer

Installing grab bars in bathrooms (near toilet, in shower/tub) and improving lighting — particularly night lighting and stair lighting — are the most evidence-based, low-cost environmental modifications for reducing home fall risk.

(CPC) Community Paramedic Certification Practice Test

(CPC) Community Paramedic Certification Practice Test

CPC Geriatric Care and Fall Prevention