Table 2:
Yellow Flags Requiring Family Physician Notification (with patient permission)
| Additional Symptom Information | |
|---|---|
| • Fear of falling | Ask “Are you are afraid of falling again?” There are validated questionnaires available such as the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and Falls Efficacy Scale to measure this fear34 This fear is a significant contributor to the risk of falls and can result in functional decline, decreased quality of life, and institutionalization6,23 |
| • Dementia | This is an independent risk factor for falls6 Cognitive impairment/dementia can be screened for using the Mini-Cog tool35 |
| • Depression | This is also associated with falls and can be screened for with the PHQ-2 questionnaire36,37 |
| • Sleep disturbance | This includes sleep apnea which can be tested for with a sleep study by the family physician Poor quality sleep is a risk for falls38 |
| • Incontinence | This may cause urgent trips to bathroom, often at night, and lead to a fall6 |
| • Taking 4 or more medications39 |