Falls occurring in old people are common, but almost always happen for a reason. Some of the reasons for falls are simple and some are complex. Occasionally, thinking about the cause will aid in further prevention, help assign a prognosis, or lead to further investigation.
Rarely, the fall may produce an injury which will lead to deterioration if undetected. This possibility leads to specific recommendations for head CT. Considerations are also offered regarding fall prevention. Many of these are common sense, but few are consistently implemented.