Elderly focus for OOs

The profession could be asked to participate in new guidelines aimed at preventing recurrent falls in older people.
The GovernmentÕs National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has included the subject of falls by the elderly as one of the latest topics it will look at.
Efforts by hospital departments to urge older people who have fallen to make an appointment with an optometrist for an eye examination Ð to see whether their accident might have been caused by failing vision Ð have been reported in optician.
Patients who have been involved in a repeat fall have been targeted in these schemes, including a year-long study at KingÕs College Clinical Age Research Unit (News, January 22 1999).
A spokesman for NICE said this week: ÔFalls are a major cause of disability and the leading cause of death due to injury in older people aged over 75 in the UK. We hope to publish clinical guidelines and associated clinical audit systems on the assessment and prevention of falls in older people, including recurrent falls.Õ
It said the guidance would help reduce the number of falls resulting in serious injury, and Ôensure the effective treatment and rehabilitation for those who have fallen, by providing guidelines for assessment and preventionÕ.
Earlier this year the AOP met with the Older Peoples Services group to discuss the Department of HealthÕs National Service Framework for Older People publication. Following the meeting Stephen Ryan, AOP primary care manager, said that the NSFÕs report presented optometrists with an opportunity to become more involved in the provision of care to older people.