Hendrich Fall Risk Score

Currently used scoring system is modified Hendrich Fall Risk Score and is termed as  Hendrich II Fall Risk Model.

It takes into account following parameters and assigns a score to each parameter. Final score is calculated by addition of all individual scores.

Here is a brief outline

Confusion and Disorientation

If any or all of the following are present, the patient receives a score of 4 for this risk factor:

• Impulsive or unpredictable behavior
• Hallucinations
• Agitation
• Changes in attention, cognition, psychomotor activity, level of consciousness, or sleep-wake cycles
• Unrealistic, inappropriate, or unusual behavior
• Disorientation to person, place, or time
• Inability to follow directions or retain instructions in self-care or activities of daily living

 Depression

Depression is assigned a score of 2.

[A patient of diagnosed depression who isn’t displaying symptoms doesn’t receive a positive score-the depression is considered to be under therapeutic control.]

• Prolonged feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or being overwhelmed
• Tearfulness
• Flat affect or lack of interest
• Loss of interest in life events
• Melancholic mood
• Withdrawal
• The patient’s statement of depression

Altered Elimination

Score of 1 in following cases

• Urinary or fecal incontinence
• Urgency or stress incontinence
• Diarrhea
• Frequent urination
• Nocturia

Dizziness or vertigo, male sex, medications antiepileptics and benzodiazepines, each receive score of 1.

For the patient to receive a positive score, one of these drugs must be administered.

Get Up and Go Test

Get up and go test scores range from 0 to 4 based on the patient’s ability to rise from a seated position as shown in table in the beginning of the article.

Total Score and Interpretation

Individual score is added to calculate final score.A total score of 5 or more puts the patient into high risk category.

 Original Hendrich Fall Risk Score

Just for the mention, here is brief summary of original Hendrich Fall Risk Score