Ask Proactive – A nursing home resident rose out of his wheelchair, walked 2 steps, and stated “I am too weak to move any further” as staff noticed his knees beginning to buckle. Two aides assisted him onto his roommate’s bed. Is this considered a fall?

A nursing home resident rose out of his wheelchair, walked 2 steps, and stated “I am too weak to move any further” as staff noticed his knees beginning to buckle. Two aides assisted him onto his roommate’s bed. Is this considered a fall?

A:

Yes, this is an intercepted fall. The resident would have fallen if staff had not intervened. An intercepted fall is considered a fall that requires an intervention, root cause analysis completion, and an update to the resident’s care plan.