Syncope and Falls in the Elderly (SaFE)
Welcome to the STARS Syncope and Falls in the Elderly (SaFE) project information page. This advisory area has been put together to provide information and advice to older adults, their families, carers, care workers, medical professionals on syncope (a blackout caused by a sudden lack of blood supply to the brain). The information is aimed at increasing general knowledge and understanding of syncope and providing better support specifically for older adults who experience blackouts or unexplained falls.
Syncope is caused by a problem with the regulation of blood pressure or by a problem with the heart and is a significant cause of falls among older adults. In fact, syncope and mechanical falls are the most common reasons for older adults to attend an accident and emergency department.
“I never realised that I was losing consciousness. Each time I found myself on the ground I thought I had tripped”.
Syncope misdiagnosed as mechanical falls is problematic in persons 65 years and older age group. Why? 30% of patients aged 65 years and over who have experienced syncope will not be aware that they are losing consciousness, they instead will report that they have fallen. This is due to a brief loss of memory in the time just before losing consciousness (medically termed retrograde amnesia). As a consequence, doctors may be likely to diagnose a mechanical fall and patients will not be investigated for the actual cause, such as low blood pressure, or an arrhythmia (irregular, too fast or too slow heart rhythm). Unfortunately this may leave the loss of consciousness untreated.
As a result, STARS has developed a new project which aims to promote accurate diagnosis and treatment of syncope and raise awareness of its link to falls in older adults. If more people are made aware syncope as a cause of falls, the root cause could be treated and recurring falls prevented.
New patient literature is now available for older people with syncope
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Do you suffer from unexplained
blackouts or falls?
Download and Print
Syncope causes falls in older people
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Common Causes and Preventative
Measures on Syncope in Older People
Download and Print
Pacemaker
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Bradycardia
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Key facts on Syncope as a cause
of falls – for Medical Professionals
Download and Print
How can you get involved with the Safe project at STARS?
STARS patient survey
Get involved with STARS Syncope and Falls in the Elderly project and help shape educational resources available for older adults with syncope in the future. We welcome your contributions to our patient survey. If you are 55 years and over download your patient survey here.
STARS care home survey
Do you have a relative in an elderly care home/are you a carer? Research has found that more than 50% of older people, age 60 and older, who are living in a nursing home, suffer from syncope, especially in the morning. STARS would like to provide support, information and advice to care home staff to promote better quality of life for older adults experiencing syncope in care homes. Please download a survey here and pass it onto your nearest care home.
If you would like further information or have questions on the Syncope and Falls in the Elderly project at STARS, please contact:
Email: safe@stars.org.uk
Address: SaFE STARS, PO Box 175, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 8YD