Falls in the aged.

A fall is a major problem for the elderly person. Finding that a patient has a history of falls should lead to an aggressive investigation to search for treatable causes. The investigation should be based on a functional approach that emphasizes the underlying medical problems that contribute to falling, the psychologic reactions of the patient to having fallen, and the hazards of the patient's environment. Functionally oriented interventions may decrease further falls even when specific causes are elusive.