Types of Falls

Definition:

There is no universally accepted definition of a patient fall. The Joint Commission requires every accredited organization to define what they consider to be a patient/resident fall.  Some definitions are detailed like that used by the the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) “loss of upright position that results in landing on the floor, ground or an object or furniture or a sudden, uncontrolled, unintentional, non-purposeful, downward displacement of the body to the floor/ground or hitting another object like a chair or stair”.•  Other fall definitions are more succinct; an unplanned descent to a floor or place lower than the patient. 

Types of falls

• Accidental Fall: Fall that occurs due to extrinsic environmental risk factors or hazards: spills on the floor, clutter, tubing/ cords on the floor, etc., or errors in judgment, such as not paying attention.•
• Anticipated Physiological Fall: Factors associated with known fall risks as indicated on the Morse Fall Scale that are predictive of a fall occurring: loss of balance, impaired gait or mobility, impaired cognition/confusion, impaired vision. Falls that we anticipate will occur due to the patient’s existing physiological status, history of falls, and decreased mobility upon assessment.•
• Unanticipated Physiological Fall: Factors associated with unknown fall risks that were not predicted (cannot be predicted) on a fall risk scale: unexpected orthostasis; extreme hypoglycemia; stroke; heart attack; seizure.•
• Behavioral (Intentional) Fall: Patient who has behavioral issues and voluntarily positions his/her body from a higher level to a lower level.•
• Assisted Fall occurs when the patient begins to fall, is assisted by another person, but nevertheless reaches the ground or other unintended surface.•

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