Health conditions increasing fall risk are categorized as which factors?

• A. Intrinsic Risk Factors
• B. Extrinsic Risk Factors
• C. Morse Fall Risk Scale
• D. AMPAC

Answer: (A)

Internal health conditions that raise the likelihood of falling are intrinsic risk factors. These are problems that originate in the person, such as chronic diseases, functional limitations, sensory changes, cognitive impairment, or medications that cause dizziness, hypotension, or sedation. For example, Parkinson’s disease can impair balance and gait, diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness and unsteady steps, arthritis can limit movement and transfer ability, vision loss increases hazards, and multiple medications can dull alertness or cause orthostatic drops in blood pressure. Extrinsic factors are environmental hazards outside the person, like clutter, poor lighting, slippery floors, or improper footwear. Tools like the Morse Fall Risk Scale and AM-PAC are assessment instruments used to gauge risk or function, not categories of risk factors themselves.