Vitamin D May Reduce Falls in Nursing Home Residents

A study published in the latest issue of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that residents receiving a dose of Vitamin D higher than normally prescribed may decrease their risk of falling in the nursing home. In their study, residents receiving the 800 IU (International Units) experienced 72 percent fewer falls compared to residents receiving a placebo.

I'm not a huge fan of these correlation studies (consider the constant pregnancy and fish flip-flop), but it is important that we keep up with the research. Expect to hear more about this from the media. Remind staff, residents, and families that while these studies add value to healthcare delivery, they still need to consider time-tested fall prevention methods, many of which were utilized in the study.