NeuroDash

The stroke case library

chronic — tier 3

Falls Prevention at Seven Months

Patient79F, chronic phase
LesionPCA territory, minor
SeverityNIHSS 3
Days since onset210
Before the strokeLived alone independently, tended a large garden
Also on the chartOsteoporosis; Mild postural hypotension
PrecautionsFall risk during assessment itself; Sedating medication and visual field loss interact at night

Test yourself

Which falls plan addresses the actual causes here?

The teaching

Falls after stroke are multifactorial — assess every factor, not just balance (Verheyden 2013) Home-hazard modification and medication review are interventions, not afterthoughts (Gillespie 2012) Evening falls point at the intersection of vision, medication, and environment

Read next

The full sequence

This page carries the case’s first decision. The full sequence — every decision, the five-domain examination, and the debrief that grades you — is in the drill, and the library is included with membership.

Sources on this page: Verheyden 2013, Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, interventions for preventing falls in people after stroke. Gillespie 2012, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, interventions for preventing falls in older people