Which factor is a fall risk factor in hospitalized older adults?

• A. Sedatives are common fall risk factors
• B. High-protein diet improves balance
• C. Adequate lighting eliminates fall risk
• D. Regular ambulation is a risk

Answer: (A)

Sedating medications are a major fall risk factor in hospitalized older adults because they impair alertness, coordination, and balance. In older patients, these drugs often have amplified effects due to slower metabolism and polypharmacy, leading to dizziness, confusion or delirium, slowed reaction time, and orthostatic hypotension. The hospital environment—unfamiliar surroundings, pain, and the need for multiple therapies—further increases the chance of a misstep or loss of balance when a patient is sedated.

While nutrition and lighting influence safety, they don’t directly eliminate fall risk on their own, and regular ambulation typically reduces, rather than increases, fall risk. A high-protein diet may support strength over time, but it isn’t a direct, immediate fall risk factor. Adequate lighting helps but cannot guarantee safety.